SB 

1O3 


UC-NRLF 


70   160 


BRIEF    ESSAYS 


3STEAAT       IF1  IR,  TJ  I  T  S, 


ORNAMENTAL  TREES  AND  PLANTS. 


WILLIAM    C.  BARRY, 


X.  Y 


Professor  Wickson 


DEIT 


BRIEF    ESSAYS 


1ST  IE  W     IF  IR,  TJ  I  T  S  , 


ORNAMENTAL  TREES  AND  PLANTS. 


WILLIAM    C.iBARRY. 
Mo  TNT  HOPE  NURSERIES,   ROCHESTER,  N.  Y. 


ROCHESTER,   N.   Y.  : 

XPRESH  PRINTING  COMPANY  0,  IL*  AND  14  MILL  STREET. 

1880. 


SB/ 03 


DCPT 


NEW  FRUITS  IN  1879. 


A    PAPER    READ    BEFORE    THE    WESTERN    N.    Y.    HORTICULTURAL    SOCIETY    AT 
ROCHESTER,    JANUARY    2QTH,     l88o. 

Referring  to  my  report*  of  last  year  on  New  Seedling  Peaches,  I  suppose 
the  question  will  now  be  asked  whether  any  of  the  many  varieties  then 
enumerated  and  described  have  proved  to  be  acquisitions.  You  are,  of 
course,  aware  that  in  so  brief  a  period  it  is  not  possible  to  obtain  much  re- 
liable information  on  matters  of  this  character;  but  it  gives  me  great 
pleasure  to  furnish  such  facts  as  have  been  communicated  to  me,  and  I 
hope  that  the  list  may  serve  in  some  degree  to  avert  the  confusion  which 
must  necessarily  arise  from  the  introduction  of  so  many  new  varieties  at 
one  time. 

New    Peaches. 

Relative  to  Beck  with' S  Early,  which  heads  the  list,  we  have  nothing 
new  to  report,  as  the  tree  did  not  produce  any  fruit  the  past  season. 

Wyandotte  Chief  failed  also  to  bear  any  fruit.  Its  history  and  descrip- 
tion, as  given  in  my  last  report,  was  incorrect.  Mr.  Kroh  informs  me  that 
it  originated  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Matthew  Mudeater,  near  Wyandotte,  Kan- 
sas, and  he  describes  it  as  a  dark  red  free-stone,  rich,  juicy,  and  fine  flavored. 
Average  specimens  have  measured  eight  and  a  half  inches  in  circumference, 
and  in  1878  it  ripened  ten  days  in  advance  of  Amsden. 

Bledsoe's  Eariy  Cling — The  severe  winter  of  '78  injured  the  fruit  buds. 
Mr.  Wood  has  changed  its  name  to  "Advance,"  and  he  describes  it  as  a 
delicious  peach ;  superior  to  Alexander  or  Amsden,  and  five  to  eight  days 
earlier. 

Respecting  the  Seedlings  Nos.  i  and  2,  raised  by  Jas.  A.  Storm,  of  Mis- 
souri, I  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  any  new  facts. 

Brice's  Early  June,  according  to  reliable  authority  is  remarkably  early, 
but  Prof.  Vandeman,  of  Geneva,  Kansas,  says  that  "  Vandeman's  Early  " 
is  destined  to  excel  it  in  many  particulars.  As  this  Seedling  has  not  been 
before  described,  I  give  the  following  description  as  sent  to  me  by  the 
Professor : 

Vandeman's  Early— Originated  by  H.  E.  Vandeman,  Geneva,  Kansas, 
and  named  Vandeman's  Early  by  the  Kansas  State  Horticultural  Society, 
bore  its  first  crop  in  1878,  and  ripened  June  i3th,  the  fruit  measuring  seven 
to  eight  inches  in  circumference  ;  color  bright  purple  and  crimson  on  white 
ground ;  flesh  white,  adheres  slightly  to  the  stone ;  in  flavor  equal  to  Male's. 
Prof.  Vandeman  says  that  he  has  twenty  other  promising  seedlings.  In 
that  vicinity  there  are  also  the  following  seedlings,  for  the  description  of 
which  I  am  indebted  to  Mr,  Vandeman  ; 

646293 


NEW  FRUITS  IN  18T9. 


Nugent' S  June — Originated  by  E.  J.  Nugent,  Ottawa,  Kansas,  very 
promising. 

Towns'  Early — Originated  by  Mrs.  Towns,  of  Garnett,  Kansas,  and 
perhaps  the  largest  of  these  very  early  peaches. 

Emporia — Originated  by  Mrs.  L.  Burns,  near  Emporia;  resembles  the 
other  very  early  kinds. 

Rev.  S.  M.  Irwin,  of  Geneva,  Kansas,  has  twelve  seedlings,  all  very  early. 

Ashby's  Early,  which  in  my  report  was  described  as  having  originated 
in  Texas,  was  raised  by  G.  W.  Ashby,  at  Charrute,  Kansas,  and  is  said  to 
be  ten  days  earlier  than  Amsden,  and  of  better  quality. 

Simon  Bucher,  of  Emporia,  Kansas,  is  reported  to  have  twenty  kinds 
earlier  than  Amsden;  and  Mr.  C.  C.  Kelsey,  of  Humboldt,  Kansas,  has 
some  five  or  six  seedlings  that  ripened  ten  days  in  advance  of  Amsden. 

Of  Hynes'  Surprise,  the  Hon.  E.  F.  Hynes  writes  me  that  the  late  cold 
weather  in  spring  injured  the  buds  so  much  that  there  were  but  few  peaches. 
He  describes  his  several  seedlings  as  follows  : 

Hynes'  Surprise  has  fruited  four  years.  In  size  it  is  medium  to  large, 
very  highly  colored,  flesh  white  and  red,  fine  flavored,  and  a  free  stone  when 
fully  ripe.  It  is  an  excellent  keeper. 

Hyne's  Nectar — My  latest  new  peach  is  a  freestone,  and  delicious.  In 
1878  ripened  five  days  in  advance  of  Surprise. 

Early  Lydia  ripens  with  Hale's  Early.  Skin  rose-colored,  and  a  free 
stone.  None  of  these  have  shown  any  indications  of  rot,  while  the  Hale's 
Early  and  Early  York  on  the  same  ground  rot  badly. 

Early  Rose,  a  freestone  ;  Gov.  Phelps,  a  large  yellow  clingstone ;  How- 
ard, Gen.  Custer  and  La  Belle  are  all  seedlings  raised  by  him. 

Hape's  Early — Raised  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  of  the  same  season  as  Alex- 
ander and  Amsden,  is  said  by  Mr.  Berckmans  to  be  superior  to  either 
in  quality,  and  preferable  because  it  is  more  of  a  freestone. 

Baker's  Early  May— Raised  by  G.  W.  Mosteller,  Girard,  Ks.,  did  not 
produce  any  fruit  in  1879. 

Bowers'  Early — The  original  tree  did  not  bear  in  1879,  but  a  few  spe- 
cimens were  produced  on  young  trees ;  these  ripened  two  to  three  days 
earlier  than  Amsden  and  were  larger  than  that  variety,  and  of  finer  quality. 
The  disseminators,  Messrs.  Morris  &  Miller  say  that  it  is  so  much  superior 
to  Amsden  in  flavor,  that  it  would  be  valuable  even  if  it  did  not  prove  any 
earlier. 

The  Rochester  Seedlings  may  be  regarded  as  still  on  trial,  although  one 
of  them  ripens  with  Crawford's  Late,  and  resembles  it  so  closely  as  not  to 
be  worthy  of  a  distinct  name.  The  other  is  quite  promising. 

The  Very  Large  Seedling  Peach  raised  in  New  York  City,  ripens  too 
late  to  be  of  value  at  the  North,  but  would  undoubtedly  prove  desirable  at 
the  South. 

Gov.  Garland  is  described  as  a  large  clingstone  peach,  resembling  Ams- 
den in  appearance,  but  larger,  earlier  and  superior  in  flavor.  The  original 
tree  is  growing  six  miles  from  Bentonville,  Arkansas,  but  the  fruit  buds 


NEW  FRUITS  IN  1879. 


being  injured  by  severe  weather  last  winter,  no  fruit  was  obtained  this  sea- 
son. Prof.  Wm.  Hudson  of  Tehuacana,  Texas,  who  is  experimenting  with 
the  new  peaches,  had  a  young  tree  which  bore  a  single  specimen  that 
ripened  five  days  before  the  Alexander. 

Harper's  Early,  originated  in  Wilson  Co.,  Ks.,  is,  according  to  reliable 
authority  resident  in  Kansas,  not  so  large  nor  so  early  as  Amsden. 

Kinnaman's  Early — Regarding  this  variety  I  have  not  been  able  to 
learn  anything  new. 

Burns'  Peach — I  have  not  received  any  new  facts  relative  to  this  variety. 

The  Sallie  Worrell,  raised  in  Wilson  Co.,  N.  C.,  is  described  as  very 
large,  sometimes  measuring  14  inches  in  circumference  ;  color  creamy  white 
shaded  with  pale  red  ;  flesh  juicy,  vinous  and  very  good ;  one  of  the  finest 
peaches  ;  ripens  with  Stump  the  World. 

Bustion's  October,  Harris'  Winter  and  Albright's  Peach  are  late  vari- 
eties of  value  at  the  South,  but  too  late  for  cultivation  at  the  North. 

Callie  Seaff  is  said  to  be  a  seedling  of  the  Early  York,  one-third  larger 
than  Amsden,  and  adheres  slightly  to  the  stone,  same  as  Hale's.  In  the 
same  orchard  with  Amsden  and  Alexander  it  ripened  in  1878  eight  to  ten 
days  earlier.  In  '79  the  fruit  buds  were  injured  by  frost,  hence  no  fruit. 

The  Davidson  Seedlings  raised  in  Painsville,  Ohio,  were  carefully  com- 
pared with  other  very  early  sorts  by  Mr.  M.  B.  Bateham,  the  well-known 
horticulturist ;  and  he  has  reported  the  following  results  : 

Seedling  No.  1,  ripened  in  1879  two  weeks  later  than  it  did  in  1878. 
Mr.  Bateham,  however,  believes  it  to  be  a  few  days  earlier  than  Alexander 
or  Amsden. 

Seedling  No.  2,  which  last  year  ('78)  ripened  a  week  later  than  No.  i, 
was  not  more  than  three  days  later  this  year  ('79).  Both  are  of  fair  size, 
brilliant  color,  and  equal  in  quality  to  an/  of  this  class  of  peaches.  No.  2 
ripened  with  Amsden  and  Alexander. 

Mr.  Bateham  says  that  The  Allen  Peach,  which  ripened  very  early  in 
1878,  matured  ten  days  later  this  season('79),  and  the  fruit  was  smaller  than 
usual.  This  variety  was  raised  by  A.  T.  Allen,  of  *Willoughby,  Ohio,  and 
in  1 8 78  the  first  ripe  peach  was  taken  from  the  tree  on  the  6th  of  July. 

Honeywell,  which  was  supposed  to  be  considerably  earlier  than  Alex- 
ander or  Amsden,  ripened  in  1879  at  the  same  time  as  these  varieties,  but 
was  inferior  to  both  in  size  and  quality. 

Brigg's  Early  May,  which  was  regarded  as  very  early,  ripens  with  Alex- 
ander and  Amsden,  and  is  not  so  large  nor  of  such  good  quality. 

Waterloo. — In  1878  the  Waterloo  ripened  a  week  before  the  Alexander 
or  Amsden.  In  '79  the  difference  in  time  of  ripening  was  slight,  owing  in 
a  considerable  measure  to  the  overloaded  condition  of  the  tree  and  its  un- 
favorable location.  By  actual  weight  and  measurement  we  found  the 
Waterloo  to  exceed  in  size  all  the  very  early  peaches  which  we  tested. 

Wheatland  is  a  seedling  raised  by  D.  E.  Rogers,  of  Wheatland,  N.  Y. 
Fruit  large,  flesh  yellow,  juicy  and  of  excellent  flavor  ;  ripens  between  Early 
and  Late  Crawford.  Mr.  Rogers,  who  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  our  best 
peach  growers,  esteems  this  variety  highly. 


NEW  FRUITS  IN  1879. 


Wager  was  originated  by  Mr.  Wager,  of  Millers  Corners,  Ontario  Co.,  N. 
Y.  It  is  a  bright  yellow  peach  shaded  with  red  on  the  sunny  side ;  flesh  juicy 
and  sprightly,  and  of  fair  quality.  Tree  very  hardy  and  productive ;  ripens 
about  the  same  time  as  the  Crawford. 

Conkling,  which  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  handsomest  peaches  known 
at  the  north  did  not  produce  any  fruit  the  past  season. 

Alpha  is  a  seedling  raised  by  T.  V.  Munson,  of  Dennison,  Texas,  and  is 
thought  to  be  a  cross  between  Early  Rivers  and  Foster.  Mr.  Munson  says 
it  has  ripened  twelve  days  before  Alexander,  and  is  higher  colored  and 
firmer  than  Eaily  Rivers.  Among  the  many  very  early  sorts  this  seems  to 
be  the  first  representative  of  a  new  type,  and  we  sincerely  hope  it  may  prove 
worthy  cf  dissemination.  We  have  now,  far  too  many  seedlings  of  the 
Male's  and  our  efforts  should  be  directed  towards  originating  peaches  like 
the  Alpha. 

Mr.  Munson  says  that  the  following  seem  to  be  real  acquisitions  for  the 
south. 

Family  Favorite,  originated  by  W.  H.  Locke,  Bonham,  Texas;  a  seed- 
ling of  the  Chinese  Cling,  but  ripening  two  weeks  earlier. 

Bogy's  Leviathan — Raised  by  Mr.  Bogy,  of  Bonham,  Texas,  very  large  ; 
of  fine  quality,  and  ripening  three  weeks  later  than  Crawford's  Late. 

Miss  May,  originated  by  Mr.  Carroll,  of  Dresden,  Texas,  of  large  size, 
first  quality  and  very  late. 

Infant  Wonder — Raised  by  Capt.  Daniel  Webster,  of  Denison,  Texas ; 
very  large  and  fine;  late. 

Mr.  Munson,  who  is  making  a  specialty  of  peach  culture  says,  that  ac- 
cording to  his  observations,  those  varieties  with  reniform  and  notched 
glands  are  the  most  robust  and  healthy.  Those  with  globose  glands  rank 
next  in  vigor  while  such  sorts  as  have  serrate  or  glandless  leaves  are  unre- 
liable as  to  time  of  ripening  and  are  disposed  to  rot  and  mildew.  He  has 
classified  the  following : 

To  the  first  section  belong— Early  Beatrice,  Early  Louise,  Early 
Rivers,  Brice's  Early,  Waterloo  and  Alpha. 

To  the  next— that  is  those  with  globose  glands— Wilder,  Musser,  Early 
Canada,  Alexander,  Amsden,  Baker's  Early  May,  Hynes'  Surprise,  Hynes' 
Nectar,  Bowers  Early. 

To  the  last  belong— Downing,  Climax,  Cumberland,  Saunders,  Honey- 
well, Brigg's  Early  May  and  Early  Lydia. 

I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Munson  for  the  following  list  of  new  peaches,  the 
names 'of  which  are  now  given  for  the  first  time. 

Williams — Discovered  in  Delaware  some  years  ago  by  Lewis  Williams, 
of  Hillsboro,  Md.,  said  to  be  earlier  and  finer  than  Alexander. 

Larkins'  Early— Raised  by  I).  F.  Larkin,  Hunt's  Station,  Term.,  is 
represented  to  be  as  fine  as  Large  Early  York,  and  ten  days  earlier  than 
Alexander. 

Eureka— Disseminated  by  M.  W.  Samuels,  Clinton,  Ky.,  is  said  to  be 
as  good  as  Alexander  and  earlier. 


NEW  FRUITS  IN  1879. 


Kelley's  Early — Raised  by  H.  M.  Kelley,  Irving,  111.,  is  said  to  be  very 
large  and  to  have  ripened  twenty  one  days  before  the  Amsden. 

Ramsey's  Early  Cling — Originated  by  A.  M.  Ramsey,  Mahomet,  Tex., 
is  described  as  an  improved  Alexander. 

Seedlings  No.  1,  2  &  3— Raised  by  Mr.  Sharp,  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  are 
all  said  to  excel  the  Alexander. 

Sherfey's  Early — Raised  by  Raphael  Sherfey,  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  who 
thinks  it  will  eclipse  all  others. 

Brown's  Early — Originated  by  W.  L.  Brown,  Ashley,  111.,  is  said  to  be 
very  early. 

Sleeper's  Dwarf  is  the  name  of  a  dwarf  variety  originated  by  W.  M. 
Sleeper  of  Oxford,  Indiana.  It  is  described  as  of  remarkable  dwarf  com- 
pact growth  ;  the  original  tree  having  grown  only  three  feet  in  eight  years. 
Fruit  of  medium  to  large  size,  greenish  white  tinged  with  crimson ;  flesh 
juicy,  sweet,  rich  ;  season,  October.  In  our  nursery  the  tree  of  this  variety 
has  not  grown  more  than  two  inches  in  two  years,  and  we  have  therefore  re- 
jected it  from  the  list,  as  unprofitable  to  cultivate.  It  is,  however,  a  curios- 
it}-,  and  will  be  considered  desirable  by  some  as  an  ornamental  tree. 

Schlimaker  is  a  seedling  originated  by  Michael  Shumaker  of  Fairview 
Township,  Erie  Co.,  Pa.  Borne  for  the  first  time  in  '77.  Described  as 
large,  round,  bright  yellow  splashed  with  crimson,  and  is  said  to  ripen  three 
to  four  weeks  earlier  than  Alexander  or  Amsden. 

Graves'  Semi-ding — Originated  by  Mr.  Wm.  Graves,  Hazelhurst,  Miss. ; 
is  believed  to  be  a  hybrid  of  the  apricot  and  peach.  It  is  described  as  one 
of  the  largest  and  finest  of  the  very  early  peaches,  and  five  to  six  days  earlier 
than  Alexander. 

Thus  you  see  how  extended  has  become  the  list  of  New  Peaches.  It  is  to 
be  regretted  that  so  many  sorts  ripening  almost  at  the  same  time,  and  so 
closely  resembling  each  other  should  have  been  named  and  offered  for  sale. 
We  trust  that  in  the  future  no  one  will  attempt  to  introduce  a  new  peach 
until  they  are  perfectly  satisfied  that  it  has  superior  qualities  not  common 
to  any  other  variety.  At  the  North,  generally,  and  in  Western  New  York, 
in  particular,  the  past  season  was  remarkably  favorable  for  the  peach.  We 
had  ripe  specimens  of  the  Waterloo  sent  to  us  August  2d,  and  on  the  ist 
of  November  we  gathered  from  our  own  orchard,  ripe  fruit  of  Comet,  one 
of  Mr.  Rivers'  Seedlings.  At  the  West,  however,  the  severe  winter  of 
'78-79,  and  late  spring  frosts  at  the  south  ruined  the  peach  crop  in  many 
localities ;  otherwise  I  should  have  been  able  to  submit  a  much  more  com- 
plete and  interesting  report.  Another  favorable  season  will,  I  hope,  enable 
us  to  fix  definitely  the  value  of  many  of  these  novelties,  and  then  the  list 
will  undoubtedly  be  greatly  reduced.  I  will  add  that  the  following  vari- 
eties of  Mr.  Rivers'  seedlings  ripen  at  the  same  time  with  Mountain  Rose 
and  Crawford's  early,  and  being  only  of  medium  size  and  fair  quality  are  hardly 
worth  retaining.  They  are  Dagmar,  Dr.  Hogg,  Early  Albert,  Early  Alfred. 
Karly  Beatrice  is  superseded  by  Alexander. 

New  Apples. 

Novelties  in  this  class  of  fruits  are  remarkably  scarce. 
Highland  Beauty,  a  seedling  apple  of  medium  size,  good  quality  and  a 
long  keeper  has  been  brought  to  notice  by  Mr.  K.  P.  Roe. 


NEW  FRUITS  IN  1879. 


Kirkland  is  the  name  of  another  handsome  seedling  apple,  resembling 
the  Yellow  Bellflower  ;  of  large  size,  good  quality  and  a  late  keeper.  Both 
have  been  described  in  our  horticultural  journals,  and  it  is  not  necessary  to 
refer  to  them  here. 

New  Pears. 

The  "Hoosic" — Some  nine  or  ten  years  ago,  we  received  from  the  Hon.  A. 
Foote,  of  Williamstown,  Mass.,  several  varieties  of  seedling  pears.  Among 
them  were  seedlings  of  Hacori's  Incomparable,  Seckel,  Marie  Louise, 
Washington,  etc.  They  all  possessed  a  cer  ain  degree  of  merit,  but  up  to 
this  time  only  one  of  them  developed  sufficient  character  and  quality  to  be 
worthy  of  dissemination.  This  is  a  seedling  of  Hacon's  Incomparable, 
which  Mr.  Foote  first  sent  us  as  "  Hacon's  No.  3,"  and  subsequently  named 
"  Hoosic."  This  variety  we  have  fruited  several  years,  and  we  believe  that 
its  many  good  qualities  fully  justify  us  in  calling  particular  attention  to  it. 
Fruit  large,  obovate,  having  considerable  exterior  resemblance  to  Beurre 
Diel.  Stalk  i£  inches  in  length,  moderately  stout,  and  set  obliquely  in  a 
slight  depression ;  ralyx  large,  open,  in  a  shallow  basin  ;  skin,  greenish 
yellow,  dotted  and  marbled  with  russet ;  flesh  fine  grained,  melting  with  a 
rich  almond  flavor  like  that  of  the  Edmunds ;  in  quality  ranking  as  best ; 
season  October.  Tree  an  erect,  free  grower,  very  hardy,  and  remarkably 
prolific. 

Herr's  Late  Winter  is  the  name  of  a  new  seedling  pear  raised  by  A.  G. 
Herr,  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  brought  to  public  attention  by  Messrs.  Nanz 
&  Neuner.  It  is  described  as  of  medium  to  large  size,  good  quality  and  a 
long  keeper ;  specimens  having  been  kept  in  perfect  condition  until  May 
and  June  of  the  following  year. 


New  Cherries. 

Mr.  D.  B.  Wier,  of  Lacon,  111.,  who  has  been  experimenting  with  seedling 
cherries  for  several  years,  offered  for  the  first  time  last  autumn  45  new 
varieties  of  the  Early  Richmond  type.  We  have  several  of  them  on  trial. 
We  have  also  in  our  collection  a  fine  seedling  resembling  the  Elkhorn  or 
Tradescant's  Black  Heart.  It  equals  that  variety  in  flavor  and  firmness  of 
flesh,  ripens  a  week  later,  and  shows  no  disposition  to  decay.  For  home 
use  and  market  it  must  prove  valuable  on  account  of  its  good  quality  and 
lateness.  I  cannot  permit  the  occasion  to  pass  without  referring  to  the 
choice  sorts  of  Montmorency,  now  in  cultivation ;  one  of  them  in  particular 
deserves  special  mention.  This  variety  came  to  us  under  the  name  of 
"  Montmorency  Longue  Queue,"  but  did  not  prove  true.  We  have  called 
it  "  Montmorency  Large  Fruited,"  as  the  fruit  is  of  large  size  and  for  one  of 
that  class  of  very  fine  quality ;  preferred  by  many  to  the  sweet  cherries. 

Dyehouse  Cherry — Figured  and  described  some  years  ago  in  the  Amer- 
ican Agriculturist,  has  proved  to  be  a  valuable  addition  to  the  list  of  hardy 
cherries.  It  was  found  some  thirty  years  ago  growing  wild  among  some 
Morello  cherries,  by  a  Mr.  Dyehouse,  in  Lincoln  Co.,  Ky.  The  fruit 
is  of  medium  size,  bright  scarlet,  with  a  very  small  stone  and  is  produced 
in  great  abundance  at  the  strawberry  season.  The  tree  is  of  dwarf  com- 
pact growth,  and  very  hardy  surpassing  in  this  respect  the  Early  Richmond. 


NEW  FRUITS  IN  1879. 


New    Plums. 

I  can  only  recall  one  variety  which  seems  deserving  of  special  notice. 
This  is  a  foreign  sort,  not  new,  but  quite  rare,  and  called  Decaisne.  It  is 
in  form,  size  and  appearance  exactly  like  Coe's  Golden  Drop,  but  it  ripens 
in  August  and  promises  to  be  very  valuable. 


New  Grapes. 

The  new  white  Grapes,  Niagara,  Prentiss,  Duchess  and  Pocklington 
have  been  so  frequently  noticed  and  described  that  I  will  not  occupy  your  time 
with  any  reference  to  them.'  We  are  now  testing  Miner's  and  Pringle's 
seedlings,  which  are  quite  numerous,  and  we  hope  to  find  among  the  num- 
ber some  varieties  worth  keeping.  I  have  received  a  circular  in  which  the 
Cortland  grape  is  described  and  recommended  as  a  remarkably  early  black 
variety.  I  will  be  obliged  for  any  information  regarding  it. 


New    Raspberries. 

Within  the  last  few  years  many  seedlings  of  the  Philadelphia  type  have 
been  raised.  They  are  all  hardy  but  of  indifferent  quality,  not  fit  to  eat, 
but  being  of  coarse,  xlry  texture  they  can  be  handled  successfully  and  are 
therefore  valuable  for  market.  Let  us  hope  that  the  new  ones  that  are 
to  come  may  prove  more  palatable. 

The  Montelair  raised  by  the  Messrs.  Williams,  of  Montclair,  N.  J.,  is 
said  to  be  a  promising  new  sort ;  hardy,  productive,  and  of  good  quality. 

Norwalk  Seedling  disseminated  by  Mallory  and  Downs,  of  South  Nor- 
walk,  is  also  said  to  be  valuable. 

Belmont  is  the  name  of  a  new  Black  Cap  Raspberry  raised  by  Mr.  John 
Scobs,  of  Barnesville,  Ohio.  It  is  described  as  larger  'than  the  Mammoth 
Cluster,  more  productive,  and  is  said  to  ripen  its  main  crop  five  to  seven 
days  later. 

New  Blackberries. 

Warren — Said  to  be  very  early,  ripening  six  to  eight  days  before  the 
Kittatinny. 

Duncan  Falls — Said  to  be  very  hardy,  productive,  and  free  from  rust. 
Berries  of  a  large  size,  good  flavor,  and  ripens  before  the  Kittanny. 


New    Strawberries. 

Crystal  City,  raised  by  E.  Williams,  of  Crystal  City,  Mo.,  is  said  to  be 
one  of  the  earliest  varieties.  It  is  of  fair  size,  color  bright  scarlet,  and  of 
good  quality.  Plant  vigorous,  running  almost  as  freely  as  the  Crescent 
Seedling. 


10  NEW  FRUITS  IN  1879. 

Marvin's  Seedling  was  originated  by  H.  Marvin,  of  Ovid,  Michigan,  in 
1874.  Berries  large,  roundish,  conical,  bright  red,  juicy,  sub-acid.  The 
plant  is  said  to  be  very  prolific,  and  the  fruit  of  such  a  texture  as  to  fit  it  for 
shipping ;  very  late. 

Huddleston's  Favorite,  a  Seedling  of  the  Wilson,  raised  by  D.  Huddle- 
ton,  Dunreith,  Indiana,  is  described  as  larger  than  the  Wilson,  and  of  better 
quality ;  in  short,  it  is  said  to  possess  all  the  good  qualities,  and  none  of  the 
bad,  of  that  berry  of  world-wide  fame. 

Success — A  Seedling  of  Jucunda,  raised  by  N.  B.  White,  of  Norwood, 
Mass.,  is  said  to  be  large,  firm,  of  excellent  flavor,  and  very  late  ;  plant,  vig- 
orous, hardy  and  very  prolific. 

Longfellow  &  Warren,  raised  by  A.  D.  Webb,  of  Bowling  Green,  Ky., 
were  produced  from  a  mixed  lot  of  seed  from  Seth  Boyden,  Black  Defiance, 
Champion  and  Monarch. 

Longfellow  is  described  as  very  large,  long ;  color  dark  red ;  flesh  firm, 
sweet,  rich  and  of  first  quality ;  ripens  early  and  ships  well.  Plant  vigorous 
and  very  productive. 

Warren,  large  and  of  fine  flavor ;  color  dark  red ;  flesh  firm  and  of  good 
quality.  Plant  vigorous,  and  as  productive  as  Cumberland  Triumph. 

Mr.  Durand  sends  out  a  new  sort  called  Black  Giant,  said  to  be  very 
large,  and  of  good  quality. 

Glendale  was  found  growing  wild  in  Akron,  Glendale  county,  Ohio ;  fruit 
is  of  large  size;  color  bright  red,  and  is  said  to  be  of  excellent  quality  when 
fully  ripe ;  it  ripens  very  late  and  is  said  to  ship  well.  I  saw  a  sample  of 
the  fruit  last  season,  at  Cleveland,  but  it  seemed  only  to  be  of  medium 
quality. 

The  Garden,  raised  by  P.  H.  Foster  of  Babylon,  N.  Y.  is  said  to  be  a 
seedling  of  Monarch  of  the  West.  It  is  described  as  large,  of  fine  flavor 
and  very  handsome. 

Shirts  is  the  name  of  a  new  variety  raised  at  Shelby,  Michigan,  and 
is  said  to  be  promising. 

Cetywayo  — Raised  by  A.  J.  Cay  wood  &  Son,  Marlboro,  N.  Y.,  is  de- 
scribed as  large,  irregular,  firm,  sometimes  measuring  six  inches  in  circum- 
ference. It  ranks  with  Chas.  Downing  in  flavor ;  fruit  stems  eight  to  ten 
inches  long,  foliage  a  foot  high ;  quite  prolific. 

Mammoth  Bush  of  same  origin  described  as  making  remarkably  large 
plants,  having  twenty  to  thirty  fruit  stools,  foliage  standing  fifteen  inches  high, 
more  productive  than  the  Wilson  ;  fruit  a  third  larger  than  Wilson,  uniform, 
and  equal  to  Triomphe  de  Gand  in  flavor. 

*fi^"The  report  referred  to  is  one  entitled  "  New  and  Rare  Fruits  in 
1878,"  copies  of  which  can  be  had  on  application  to  author. 


MIDSUMMER  AND  AUTUMN 
Flowering  Shrubs  and  Plants  for  the  Decoration  of  Gardens, 


Many,  if  not  the  majority  of  gardens,  which  in  spring  and  early  summer 
charm  the  eye  and  gladden  the  heart  with  a  profusion  of  flowers  become  all 
at  once,  as  autumn  approaches,  almost  destitute  of  bloom.  This  is  not 
surprising,  when  we  consider  that  the  greater  number  of  shrubs  and  plants 
flower  in  May  and  June,  and  that  the  late  flowering  species  and  varieties  are 
not,  comparatively  speaking,  numerous  nor  sufficiently  well-known  to  be 
duly  appreciated,  or  properly  employed.  Some  persons  are  accustomed  to 
regard  this  annual  change  as  a  natural  consequence,  and  make  no  attempt 
to  extend  the  flowering  season,  while  others  more  observant,  having  noticed 
that  there  are  gardens  which,  even  during  the  autumn  months,  exhibit  a 
wealth  of  flowers,  are  prompted  to  inquire,  and  questions  are  often  put  to 
us  in  this  way : 

What  can  I  plant  to  render  my  garden  beautiful  and  attractive  in  Autumn  ? 

It  is  gratifying  to  note  that  during  the  past  few  years  considerable  interest 
has  been  manifested  in  this  subject,  and  in  response  to  many  inquiries  I 
have  prepared  a  brief  list  of  choice  fall  flowering  shrubs  and  plants  which,  if 
judiciously  used,  will  render  the  surroundings  of  our  houses  exceedingly 
attractive  during  the  autumn  months. 

I  would  direct  attention  first  to  the 


Althaea  or  Hibiscus   Syriacus, 

commonly  called  the  Rose  of  Sharon,  a  most  remarkable  and  valuable  shrub 
which,  as  it  were,  holds  its  blooms  in  reserve  until  there  is  a  notable  scarcity 
of  flowers.  Whether  in  the  mixed  border  among  other  shrubs  or  isolated  upon 
the  lawn,  the  Althaea  when  in  flower  produces  a  charming  effect,  relieving  the 
monotonous  aspect  which  prevails  in  most  gardens  at  this  season,  and  enliven- 
ing the  landscape  with  its  bright  flowers.  It  must  be  admitted  that  the  blooms 
of  this  shrub  lack  delicacy  of  texture,  brilliancy  and  purity  of  color,  but 
when  there  is  a  dearth  of  flowers  we  must  not  be  too  critical.  Seen  from  the 
bush,  its  coarseness  cannot  be  detected,  and  that  which  to  some  eyes 
appears  to  be  a  defect  or  blemish,  serves  on  the  contrary  only  to  enhance 
its  value  for  out  of  door  decoration.  We  must  recollect  that  coarse  flowers 
have  their  offices  to  fulfill  as  well  as  the  delicate  ones.  Besides  considerable 
pi  ogress  has  been  made  in  improving  the  Althaea,  and  amateurs  will  be 
pleased  to  learn  that  the  new  varieties  are  quite  in  advance  of  the  older 
sorts.  Among  recent  introductions  Boule  de  Feu,  which  produces  large 
double  flowers  of  a  violet  red  color,  can  justly  command  admiration.  Due 


12        MIDSUMMER  AND  AUTUMN  FLOWERING  SHRUBS. 

de  Brabant  with  very  full  flowers  of  reddish  lilac  color  may  also  be 
regarded  as  an  acquisition,  while  Leopold!!  flore  pleno  with  large,  double 
flesh-colored  blooms,  together  with  Totus  albus,  having  single  snowy  white 
flowers,  are,  I  think,  all  destined  to  become  favorites  so  soon  as  known.  A 
few  of  the  older  varieties  like  the  Double  Variegated  or  Painted  Lady, 
PSBOniflora,  and  the  Double  Red,  cannot  yet  be  dispensed  with.  They 
flower  from  the  first  of  August  till  the  first  of  October.  In  this  latitude  an 
objection  is  sometimes  raised  to  the  Althaea,  because  it  is  said  to  winter- 
kill in  severe  seasons.  This  occurs,  however,  only  with  young  plants  or 
with  specimens-  recently  transplanted,  which  are  not  yet  fully  established. 
Young  plants  should  be  protected  with  straw  or  evergreen  boughs  the  first 
and  second  winter  after  being  set  out,  and  as  soon  as  they  are  well  rooted 
they  become  perfectly  hardy. 

Another  real  treasure  which  all  plant  lovers  esteem  highly,  on  account  of  its 
many  good  qualities,  is  the 


Hydrangea  panieulata  grandiflora,  or  Plum- 
ed Hydrangea, 

Planted  singly  or  assembled  in  groups  or  masses,  it  becomes  in  August 
and  September,  when  in  full  bloom,  a  real  curiosity  to  many,  while 
to  others  fully  impressed  with  its  magnificence,  it  is  a  noble  object  deserving 
the  highest  praise  it  is  possible  to  bestow  on  any  hardy  plant.  A  circular 
bed  of  this  shrub  occupying  a  prominent  position  on  our  lawn,  has  been 
the  object  of  so  much  attention  every  year  that  I  furnished  a  brief  descrip- 
tion, of  it  for  the  London  Garden.  The  plants  composing  the  bed  were  in 
full  flower  on  my  return  from  Europe  two  years  ago,  and  I  wrote  the  Editor, 
Mr.  Robinson,  that  notwithstanding  the  many  remarkable  and  effective 
beds  of  flowering  and  fine  foliage  plants  which  I  had  seen  abroad,  I  thought 
nothing  equaled  this.  "  The  mass  consists  of  thirty-five  plants,  with  a  broad 
edging  of  the  Coleus  '  Shah '  around  it.  The  contrast  between  the  green 
grass,  the  crimson  and  yellow  foliage  of  the  Coleus,  and  the  immense  white 
and  pink  panicles  of  the  Hydrangea,  was  novel  and  beautiful.  I  have  often 
seen  and  admired  large  single  specimens  of  this  Hydrangea,  but  masses  like 
this  are  uncommon,  and  I  call  attention  to  this  manner  of  planting  as  it 
tends  greatly  to  heighten  the  effect  and  increase  the  attractiveness  of  this 
noble  shrub."  A  few  hints  relative  to  its  culture  and  management  may  not 
be  amiss.  Being  a  robust,  rank  grower,  and  a  very  free  bloomer,  it  requires 
to  be  well  fed.  The  more  food  the  larger  will  be  the  panicles,  the  greater 
their  number,  and  the  longer  they  will  remain  in  perfection.  I  think  that  I  do 
not  exaggerate  when  I  say  that  most  cultivators  actually  starve  this  plant, 
and  this  fact  explains  why  fine  specimens  are  not  oftener  seen.  A  top 
dressing  of  the  very  best  manure  should  be  given  the  plants  every  fall,  and 
in  spring  as  early  as  possible,  it  should  be  incorporated  with  the  earth  by 
means  of  the  spading  fork.  During  the  dry  summer  weather,  when  the 
earth  around  the  plants  is  apt  to  become  hard,  it  should  be  loosened  and 
made  mellow.  If  drouth  should  prevail  at  the  flowering  period,  which  is 
generally  the  case,  then  apply  water  liberally  every  evening.  Another  im- 
portant operation  connected  with  its  management,  is  the  pruning  of  the 
plant  every  spring.  This  should  be  performed  early,  say  in  March  before 
the  sap  begins  to  move,  and  the  stem  should  be  cut  back  within  two  or 


MIDSUMMER  AND  AUTUMN  FLOWERING  SHRUBS.        13 

three  buds  of  the  old  wood.     These  will  then  push  forth  vigorously  at  the 
growing  season,  and  every  shoot  will  produce  a  panicle  of  flowers.     If  these 
directions  are  observed  the  result  will  be  surprising. 
Next  in  inportance  are  the 

Tall  Phlox,  or  Phlox  Deeussata. 

These,  when  properly  grown,  are  unquestionably  the  finest  of  autumn  flowers, 
and  in  the  hands  of  a  tasteful  cultivator  can  be  made  to  furnish  very  satisfac- 
tory results  in  garden  ornamentation.  Latterly,  for  some  unknown  reason, 
they  have  not  been  so  popular  as  they  formerly  were.  On  the  continent  of 
Europe  they  are  at  present  held  in  the  highest  estimation,  and  new  varieties 
are  being  constantly  raised  from  seed,  many  of  which  I  am  pleased  to  say 
show  great  progress.  The  Phlox  has  many  qualities  which  commend  it  for 
the  garden.  It  is  of  vigorous  habit,  easy  culture  and  produces  in  great 
profusion,  during  a  long  season,  flowers  of  fine  form  and  substance  and  of 
bright  and  varied  colors.  Just  as  the  Roses  are  fading,  the  Phlox  puts 
forth  her  first  flowers,  producing  a  fine  succession  of  bloom  and  prolonging 
an  interesting  season  at  least  six  weeks.  As  regards  their  culture  it  may  be 
briefly  stated  that  they  succeed  in  any  good  garden  soil,  but  they  are 
greatly  improved  by  being  liberally  manured,  and  an  occasional  supply  of 
liquid  manure  during  the  growing  season  will  greatly  increase  the  size  of 
their  trusses.  When  in  flower  they  should  be  watered  freely  every  evening. 
The  Phlox  usually  flowers  in  July  and  August,  and  in  order  to  render  it 
autumnal  flowering  it  is  necessary  to  pinch  the  shoots  about  the  first  of 
June,  and  again  in  July.  The  plants  will  then  flower  in  September.  For 
early  flowers  some  of  the  plants  may  be  left  unpinched.  When  two  years 
old  the  finest  trusses  are  produced.  The  third  year  the  plants  flower  toler- 
ably well,  but  they  will  not  keep  healthy  and  thrifty  after  that.  The  old 
plants  should  then  be  lifted  in  the  fall,  divided  and  transplanted.  But  the 
better  plan  is  to  keep  up  a  succession  of  young  plants  from  cuttings  by 
securing  a  fresh  collection  every  spring.  The  following  varieties  have  been 
chosen  from  among  a  hundred,  and  the  collection  embraces  the  choicest  of 
recently  introduced  sorts  : 

Coccinea — Deep  fiery  scarlet ;  dark  center. 

Emperor  of  the  Russians — Bright  rosy  lilac. 

Gambetta — Rose ;  vivid  red  eye. 

Gloire  de  Puteaux — Rose  ;  distinct  white  center. 

Lothair — Rich  salmon  color  ;   crimson  eye. 

Madame  Alldry — Crimson  purple  ;   crimson  center. 

Norma — Lilac  with  distinct  scarlet  eye. 

Oberon — Coppery  red. 

President  Payen — Vermilion  shaded  with  lilac. 

Phoceon — Lilac  rose,  with  carmine  eye. 

Princess  Louise — White,  suffused  with  crimson  ;  carmine  eye. 

Queen — Pure  white. 

Richard  Wallace— White,  with  violet  center. 

Rendatler — White,  distinct  purple  center. 


14        MIDSUMMER  AND  AUTUMN  FLOWERING  SHRUBS. 

Reve  d'Or — Brilliant  cerise  salmon;  cerise  eye. 

Selliere — Dark  purplish  rose. 

Vierge  Marie — Pure  white,  of  waxy  texture. 

The  following  are  the  cream  of  the  Novelties  of  1879.     The  descriptions 
are  to  be  found  in  the  Florists'  Catalogues : 

Andre  Leroy,  Francis  Coppee,  Frederick  Lemaitre,  La  Fille  de  Hol- 
land, Queen  of  Whites,  York  et  Lancastre. 

The   Japan  Anemone 

admitted  everywhere  to  be  one  of  the  finest  hardy  perennials, 
stands  in  the  foremost  rank  among  plants  for  autumn  decoration. 
The  species  called  Japonica  grows  about  three  feet  high  and  bears 
on  long  footstalks  very  pretty  purple  flowers  measuring  two  inches 
across.  A  fine  variety  of  the  Japonica  named  Honorine  Jobert  resembles 
it  in  habit,  but  has  snowy  white  flowers.  These,  when  planted  together, 
as  companions  produce  a  fine  effect  by  their  striking  contrast.  The  plant 
is  of  such  neat,  compact  habit,  demands  so  little  care,  is  so  hardy  and 
beautiful  ami  bears  such  an  abundance  of  flowers  that  it  is  sure  to  become 
popular  wherever  known.  On  large  lawns  a  grand  circular  bed  may  be 
formed  by  planting  the  center  with  the  white  variety  followed  with  a  broad 
ring  of  purple  around  it,  then  another  circle  of  that  fine  fall  flowering 
Sedum — spectabile.  It  is  difficult  to  describe  the  beauty  of  beds  of  this 
character.  They  must  be  seen  in  all  their  glory  of  an  autumn  day  to  be 
fully  appreciated.  How  much  more  sensible  to  expend  time  and  money  on 
permanent  beds  like  these,  rather  than  to  devote  so  much  to  soft-wooded 
bedding  plants  which  are  of  such  short  duration.  With  the  great  variety  of 
hardy  plants  at  our  disposal,  pleasing  combinations  may  be  multiplied  at 
will,  and  beds  once  well  made  will  be  constant  objects  of  pleasure. 
For  midsummer  decoration  the 

Hollyhock 

proves  very  effective.  As  it  attains  a  height  of  from  six  to  eight  feet  it  is 
useful  to  plant  at  the  back  of  borders  of  shrubbery,  and  it  may  also  be  ar- 
ranged in  beds  or  planted  alone.  In  July  no  flower  is  more  attractive,  and 
their  long  spikes  of  large  rosette-shaped  blooms  of  beautiful  and  brilliant 
shades  of  color  present  a  charming  appearance.  No  garden  which  lays  claim 
to  completeness  can  afford  to  dispense  with  so  great  on  attraction.  Holly- 
hocks are  raised  easily  from  seed  planted  in  the  open  ground  in  July,  so 
that  the  young  plants  may  become  strong  enough  by  autumn  to  survive 
the  winter,  by  being  slightly  protected.  They  can  be  lifted  early  in  the 
spring,  transplanted,  and  they  will  flower  in  July  and  August.  Propa- 
gation by  division  is  performed  in  autumn  as  soon  as  possible  after  the 
plants  have  flowered  The  roots  should  be  dug  up  and  cut  into  as  many 
pieces  as  there  are  shoots,  and  these  pieces  can  then  be  replanted.  We 
raise  our  plants  entirely  from  seed,  and  as  the  varieties  are  constantly  chang- 
ing I  will  not  endeavor  to  give  any  list. 

Another  invaluable  class  of  summer-flowering  plants  are  the 


MIDSUMMER  AND  AUTUMN  FLOWERING  SHRUBS.        15 

Delphiniums,  or  Larkspurs, 

which  exhibit  a  wonderful  variety  of  beautiful  colors  and  shades  from 
pale  blue  to  black.  In  the  mixed  border  they  are  superb.  Tall  and 
conspicuous  when  in  flower,  they  never  fail  to  arrest  the  attention  of  even 
the  most  unobserving.  Their  culture  is  easy,  and,  like  other  perennials, 
they  can  be  increased  by  division  in  the  fall.  The  following  are  choice 
tall  varieties  : 

Ivanhoe — Bright  blue,  double,  superb. 

Louis  Agassiz — Blue,  with  purple  center,  double ;  very  striking. 
Mrs.  Goodell — Dark  blue,  with  purple  centre. 
Coelestinum— Very  light  blue,  beautiful,  double. 

Although  generally  of  little  value  for  out  of  door  decoration  on  account 
nf  being  destroyed  frequently  by  early  frosts,  nevertheless,  the 

Chrysanthemum, 

in  mild  autumns,  often  proves  very  desirable,  producing  an  abundance 
of  flowers  late  in  the  fall,  when  all  other  flowers  have  passed  away.  If  care 
be  taken  to  set  out  the  plants  very  early  in  the  spring,  then  give  them  the 
necessary  attention  during  the  summer,  so  that  their  growth  may  be  made 
early,  and  in  case  of  early  frost  afford  them  protection,  one  can  secure 
quantities  of  bloom  nearly  every  year.  If  the  weather  should  be  extremely 
severe,  the  plants  can  be  lifted,  put  into  pots  or  boxes  and  allowed  to  bloom 
in  the  house.  In  the  progress  of  floriculture  the  Chrysanthemum  has  not 
been  overlooked,  and  great  improvements  have  been  effected  during  the 
past  few  years,  both  in  color  and  form  of  the  flower.  The  new  varieties 
produce  perfectly  shaped  blossoms  of-  pleasing  colors,  vieing  in  brilliancy 
with  those  of  any  other  flower.  The  following  are  some  of  the  finest  kinds 
now  grown  : 

LARGE  FLOWERING. 

Mr.  George  Glenny — Lemon  yellow,  changing  to  pearl  white;  beautifully 
incurved  flowers.  Acknowledged  to  be  the  finest  variety  in  cultivation. 

Alfonso — Large,  fine,  reflexed  flowers,  of  a  bright,  glowing  crimson  color. 

Mrs.  George  Rundle— The  finest  white  flowering  Chrysanthemum  ;  flow- 
ers large,  globular,  beautifully  incurved. 

Grand  Turk— A  Japanese  variety,  with  large  purplish  rose  flowers. 

Mrs.  Wreford  Major — Large,  deep  rose  colored,  finely  formed  compact 
flowers ;  plant  dwarf. 

Countess  of  Derby— Pale  lilac  incurved  flowers,  centre  nearly  white. 

Fulgore— A  Japanese  variety,  with  large,  rosy  lilac  flowers,  changing  to 
white:  under  part  of  petals  striped  with  purple.  This  is  a  most  distinct 
and  odd  sort,  and  is  well  calculated  to  excite  curiosity  and  admiration. 

POMP)  INK    VA  III  I!  1  I  I>. 

Cendrillon — Rosy  lilac,  small  and  compact. 

Model  of  Perfection— Rich  lilac,  edged  with  white  ;  well  formed ;  plant 
a  handsome  grower. 


16        MIDSUMMER  AND  AUTUMN  FLOWERING  SHRUBS. 

Gen,  Canrobert — Pure  yellow.     A  fine  full  flower;  early. 

Criterion — Bright  yellow. 

Aurore  Boreale — Orange  and  salmon. 

Paftlo — Rose  tinged  with  purple,  beautifully  fringed. 

Heda — Bright  amaranth,  very  showy. 

Rosina — A  beautiful  pink  variety. 

The  Dahlia 

is  still  recognized  as  a  most  valuable  fall  flowering  plant,  but  it  is  not  nearly 
so  popular  now  as  it  was  some  years  ago.  The  culture  is  so  easy  and  so  well 
understood  that  I  do  not  deem  it  necessary  to  refer  to  it  in  this  article. 
Neither  will  I  occupy  your  time  in  naming  and  describing  the  many  select 
kinds  now  grown — the  names  of  which  are  to  be  found  in  the  Trade 
Catalogues. 

The  Tritoma   Uvaria, 

sometimes  called  the  Red  Hot  Poker  or  Flame  Flower,  blooms  in  Sep- 
tember. Its  flower  stems  are  from  three  to  five  feet  high,  and  are  terminated 
with  spikes  a  foot  long,  of  pendent  red  and  orange  scarlet  tubular  flowers, 
resembling  the  plumes  of  a  soldier's  cap.  In  the  mixed  border  these  plants 
are  very  showy  and  effective,  and  they  are  also  very  useful  in  the  centre  of 
beds,  of  autumn  flowering  plants. 
A  late  flowering 

Spiraea,  called  Callosa  Alba 

must  not  be  overlooked  in  a  collection  of  midsummer  flowering  shrubs.  The 
plant  is  of  dwarf,  compact  habit,  almost  round,  always  forms  a  pretty  speci- 
men, and  produces  white  flowers.  It  commences  to  blossom  in  July  when 
all  the  other  Spiraeas  are  out  of  flower,  and  continues  in  bloom  nearly  all  sum- 
mer. For  the  edges  of  borders,  or  employed  as  a  single  specimen,  I  know 
of  no  shrub  that  is  more  elegant  and  useful  in  a  garden. 

Hardy  Roses. 

A  few  of  the  finest  autumn  flowering  varieties  may  be  named  as  follows  : 
Alfred  Colomb,  Marguerite  de  St.  Amande,  La  France,  Countess  of  Serenye, 
Paul  Neyron. 


VINES  AND  CREEPERS. 


[  Written,  for  tlie  Rochester  Democrat  and  Chronicle.] 

With  the  advent  of  spring  our  interest  in  indoor  life  decreases.  The 
bright,  sunshiny  days  which  occasionally  vary  the  monotony  of  our  dull 
winter  weather  give  us  a  foretaste  of  what  we  may  expect  in  the  future, 
and  we  now  begin  to  picture  to  ourselves  the  pleasures  of  life  in  the  open 
air,  of  rambles  in  our  garden,  among  the  fruits  and  flowers,  and,  with  the 
pleasantest  recollections  of  the  past  summer  yet  fresh  in  our  minds,  the 
question  naturally  suggests  itself :  What  can  we  do  to  make  our  gardens 
more  beautiful  and  enjoyable  than  before? 

The  long  winter  evenings  afford  ample  time  to  consider  and  discuss  this 
important  question,  and  to  arrange  a  programme  for  the  spring  work.  In 
these  times,  when  so  much  study  and  thought  are  bestowed  upon  the 
ornamentation  of  our  dwellings,  the  grounds  which  surround  them  should 
not  be  overlooked.  An  equal  share  of  enthusiasm  and  interest  should  be 
manifested  in  both.  This  would  lead  to  a  proper  consideration  arid  appre- 
ciation of  home  surroundings.  We  should  remember  that  our  garden  may 
be  compared  to  a  pictuie,  of  which  we  are  the  artists.  Exposed  as  this 
picture  is  to  public  view  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  it  should  be  our  en- 
deavor to  make  it  as  attractive  and  beautiful  as  possible.  In  fact,  we  should 
aim  at  being  able  to  give  intelligent  direction  to  all  garden  operations, 
thereby  sparing  ourselves  the  annoyance  which  those  must  surely  experience 
who,  having  no  knowledge  of  the  gardening  art,  depend  entirely  upon  the 
gardener.  To  •  accomplish  this,  we  should  profit  of  the  knowledge  and 
experience  of  others,  obtain  and  read  thoroughly  such  treatises  on  fruits, 
flowers,  and  gardening  as  "  Barry's  Fruit  Garden,"  "  Scott's  Suburban 
Home  Grounds,"  and  the  catalogues  of  the  various  nurserymen  and  seeds- 
men. The  abundance  and  variety  of  valuable  material  which  we  find  at 
our  disposal  almost  perplexes  us  ;  but,  having  given  the  subject  due  con- 
sideration, and  with  a  correct  idea  of  the  requirements  of  our  garden,  we 
can  undoubtedly  make  a  selection  of  such  trees  and  plants  as  we  fancy  the 
most,  and  which  appear  the  best  adapted  to  the  purposes  we  have  in  view. 
A  perusal  of  these  works  will  not  only  afford  us  much  pleasure,  but  at  the 
same  time  supply  a  delightful  subject  for  study.  Those  who  desire  to 
pursue  their  inquiries  still  further  should  procure  the  handsomely  illustrated 
works  entitled  "  The  Parks,  Promenades,  and  Gardens  of  Paris,"  "  Robin- 
son's Sub-Tropical  Gardening,"  and  Shirley  Hibberd's  "  Amateur's  Rose 
Book,"  all  of  which  will  be  found  instructive  and  interesting.  I  would 
like,  if  space  permitted,  to  name  several  other  valuable  horticultural  works 
and  periodicals  which  merit  a  place  on  the  library  table.  But  those  who 
read  carefully  the  publications  which  I  have  suggested  will  not  be  satisfied 
to  limit  their  horticultural' reading  to  them.  Their  interest  in  horticulture 
once  awakened,  they  will,  of  their  own  accord,  seek  the  best  mediums  for 
more  extended  information.  Then  will  we  have  the  gratification  of  noting 


18  VINES  AND  CREEPERS. 

• 

rapid  progress  in  the  art  of  gardening.  An  honorable  rivalry  will  spring 
up,  and  there  will  be  a  lively  competition  as  to  who  will  have  the  finest 
gardens  and  grow  the  choicest  fruits  and  flowers.  Having  made  these, 
which  I  shall  be  obliged  to  call  prefatory  remarks  I  will  take  up  the  sub- 
ject assigned  to  me  and  call  your  attention  to 

Vines  and  Creepers. 

Of  the  various  forms  of  growth  peculiar  to  plants,  the  climbing  or  twining 
habit  is  unquestionably  the  most  remarkable  and  interesting.  Dependent  for 
support  upon  their  more  robust  neighbors,  these  creepers  and  trailers,  simple 
and  lowly  though  they  are,  arrest  our  attention,  elicit  our  sympathy,  demand 
our  care  and  protection,  and  the  intimacy  which  thus  arises  creates  in  us  a 
greater  love  and  admiration  for  plants  of  this  class  than  for  those  of  any  other. 
Then,  too,  they  are  so  appreciative  and  thankful,  repaying  an  hundred  fold 
every  attention  which  we  bestow  upon  them,  by  lending  additional  charms  and 
attractions  to  their  appearance.  The  American  Ivy  (Ampelopsis),  climbing  to 
the  tops  of  the  tallest  forest  trees,  clothing  their  trunks  in  summer  with  rich, 
luxuriant  foliage,  which  in  autumn  changes  to  glowirg  crimson  tints,  presents, 
at  these  seasons,  a  lovely  picture  for  the  eye  to  dwell  upon.  The  English  Ivy, 
covering  the  walls  of  some  ruined  abbey  or  castle,  clinging  to  an  archway, 
or  encircling  a  tower,  is  a  picturesque  scene  one  does  not  easily  forget  and 
which  it  is  ever  pleasant  to  recall.  The  Chinese  Wistaria,  with  its  long, 
pendulous  racemes  of  lilac  flowers  and  wreaths  of  beautiful  foliage,  never 
fails  to  rivet  the  attention  of  the  most  indifferent  observer.  The  Prairie 
Rose,  with  its  showy  blossoms ;  the  Honeysuckle,  redolent  with  rich  per- 
fume ;  and  the  Sweet-scented  Clematis,  so  exquisitely  fragrant — what  a 
wealth  of  floral  beauty  !  what  a  profusion  of  plant  drapery !  But  I  am 
sure  there  is  no  necessity  of  reminding  any  one  of  the  many  beauties  which 
the  plants  of  this  class  possess.  We  will  now  consider 

The  value  of  climbers  for  ornamental  purposes,  and  how  to  use  them. 

Every  one  will  admit  that  the  interest  and  beauty  of  a  garden  are  greatly 
enhanced  by  the  use  of  climbing  plants.  In  city  gardens  especially  they  are 
invaluable,  as  they  require  but  little  attention  after  being  planted,  and  do 
much  to  render  beautiful  and  attractive  plain  wooden  structures,  or  brighten 
and  relieve  the  barrenness  of  brick  and  stone  buildings.  Architectural 
effects  are  wonderfully  improved  by  a  judicious  employment  of  climbing 
vines.  What  frescoing  and  paper  hangings  are  to  the  interior  of  a  dwelling 
vines  are  to  the  exterior.  In  nearly  every  quarter  of  the  city  we  will  find 
examples  to  prove  the  truth  of  this  assertion.  Call  to  mind  a  residence 
embellished  with  a  variety  of  climbers,  and  you  will  at  once  express  your 
admiration  of  its  beautiful  and  home-like  appearance.  On  the  other  hand, 
recall,  if  you  will,  one  which  lacks  these  decorations,  and  you  do  not  hesi- 
tate to  say :  How  cheerless  and  unfurnished  !  This  form  of  vegetation  is 
peculiarly  adapted  for  embellishing  pillars,  arches,  corridors,  verandas,  por- 
ticoes, balconies,  walls,  trellises,  and  screens.  For  ornamental  arbors  they 
are  also  particularly  valuable.  These  are  garden  structures  which  in  our 
climate  seem  almost  indispensable.  On  a  hot  July  or  August  day  we  all 
know  how  refreshing  it  is  to  get  away  from  the  direct  rays  of  the  glaring 
sun.  We  seek  the  shade  of  a  tree,  house,  hedge,  or  anything  which  affords 
protection.  This  suggests  the  more  frequent  employment  of  arbors  and 
covered  seats  in  our  gardens.  They  are  certainly  very  useful,  and  by  plant- 


VINES  AND  CREEPERS.  10 

« 

ing  climbers  to  cover  them  they  can  be  made  extremely  ornamental.  But 
it  must  be  said,  regarding  arbors,  that  they  should  never  be  made  a 
prominent  feature  of  the  garden.  Their  position  is  in  some -nook  or  cor- 
ner, partially  concealed  by  trees  or  shrubs,  and  then,  covered  with  vines, 
they  become  a  most  interesting  object ;  or  they  may  be  made  the  dividing 
line  between  the  lawn  and  vegetable  garden,  and,  with  a  dwarf  evergreen 
hedge  on  either  side,  serve  as  a  screen,  and  at  the  same  time  a  welcome  re- 
treat. An  arbor  tastefully  designed  and  constructed  of  wire  or  wood,  then 
covered  with  Clematis,  Climbing  Roses,  or  Honeysuckles,  is  an  ornament 
which  deserves  a  place  in  every  garden. 

Some  of  the  climbers,  especially  those  of  more  delicate  habit,  may  also 
be  employed  very  advantageously  for  ornamenting  the  stems  of  trees.  The 
Honeysuckle  and  Clematis,  when  planted  at  the  base  of  small  trees  and 
allowed  to  twine  around  the  stem  and  among  the  branches,  present,  when 
in  flower,  a  very  ornamental  appearance.  Shrubs,  too,  decorated  in  a  simi- 
lar manner,  are  rendered  exceedingly  interesting.  Evergreens,  particularly 
the  Arbor  Vitae,  with  Clematis  and  moonseed  clambering  over  them,  pro- 
duce unique  effects.  The  Wistaria,  trained  up  the  trunks  of  the  larch, 
Scotch  pine,  or  other  trees,  and  allowed  to  droop  down  among  the  branches 
in  elegant  festoons,  is  very  picturesque.  In  the  rockery  or  rootery  (the  lat- 
ter term  being  applied  to  grotesque  arrangements  of  old  stumps)  they  ap- 
pear to  much  advantage,  especially  the  Clematis.  On  a  recent  visit  to  Mr. 
Jackman's,  who  resides  near  London,  England,  and  who  is  the  originator 
of  that  famous  variety  called  Jackmanni,  I  had  -an  opportunity  of  seeing 
this  mode  of  training  done  to  perfection.  In  close  proximity  to  the  house 
there  were  several  masses  of  stumps  or  rooteries,  artistically  arranged,  the 
several  mounds  being  separated  by  serpentine  walks,  like  flower-beds  in  a 
parterre.  Each  mound  was  covered  with  one  variety  of  Clematis,  and  the 
thousands  of  purple,  lilac,  and  white  flowers,  in  rich  and  striking  contrast 
with  one  another,  presented  a  pictuie  the  beauty  of  which  words  cannot  ex- 
press. I  will  refer  later  to  other  modes  for  training  this  truly  admirable 
flower.  Having  suggested  some  of  the  ways  to  use  climbers  and  trailers,  I 
will  now  present  a  list  of  the  finest  species  and  varieties  for  the  garden. 
Vines  are  known  as  creepers,  twiners,  climbers,  and  trailers. 

Creepers  are  those  plants  which  throw  out  little  roots  from  their  stems  as 
as  they  climb,  like  the  Virginia  Creeper  and  English  Ivy. 

Twiners  wind  round  and  round,  like  the  Honeysuckle. 

Trailers  are  those  which  creep  upon  the  ground. 

These  I  will  now  divide  into  two  classes — hardy  and  tender  vines. 

Class  I. — Embracing  Hardy  Vines. 

The  Virginia  Creeper,  or  American  Ivy — I  name  this  first  because  it 
is,  all  things  considered,  one  of  the  most  valuable  climbers  known  for  this 
climate.  It  is  very  hardy,  grows  rapidly,  and  the  foliage  is  of  a  rich  green 
color  in  summer  and  changes  in  autumn  to  crimson  scarlet.  For  verandas, 
walls,  or  for  covering  tree-trunks,  arbors,  etc.,  it  is  by  far  the  best  vine  we 
have.  Although  I  have  not  as  yet  seen  any  distinction  made,  I  think  that 
we  may  very  justly  claim  that  there  are  two  varieties  of  this  populai  shrub. 
One  of  them  is  furnished  with  tendrils,  which  flatten  out  and  cling  to  the 
wall,  like  Ivy.  The  other  is  not  supplied  with  these  tendrils,  and  must, 
therefore,  be  trained  on  a  wire  trellis.  When  planting  this  climber  against 
the  house,  care  should  be  taken  to  obtain  the  true  creeper. 


20  VINES  AND  CREEPERS. 

Ampelopis  Veitchii — This  is  a  comparatively  new  species  and  comes 
from  Japan.  Its  leaves  are  much  smaller  than  those  of  the  American,  and 
overlap  one  another,  forming  a  dense  sheet  of  pleasing  green.  While  young, 
this  plant  is  a  little  tender,  and  requires  protection  the  first  winter  after  be- 
ing planted.  So  soon,  however,  as  it  gets  well  established,  there  is  no  further 
risk,  and  it  becomes  hardy  as  an  oak.  It  grows  rapidly,  and,  without  any 
fastening,  clings  to  the  wall  or  fence  with  the  tenacity  of  the  Ivy.  The 
foliage  is  very  handsome  in  summer  and  changes  to  crimson  scarlet  in 
autumn.  For  covering  walls,  stumps  of  trees,  and  rockwork,  I  know  of  no 
plant  so  useful.  For  the  ornamentation  of  brick  and  stone  structures  it  can 
be  specially  recommended  as  superior  to  the  American. 

AristolocMa  Sipho  (Pipe  Vine)  is  one  of  the  finest  climbers  to  embel- 
lish the  pillars  of  a  portico  or  veranda.  It  has  large,  heart-shaped,  deep 
green  leaves,  which  remain  fresh  upon  the  plant  until  late  in  the  autumn. 
Its  flowers  are  curiously  shaped,  resembling  a  pipe.  Being  a  twiner,  it  will 
require  a  wire  support  to  run  on. 

Honeysuckle,  or  Woodbine — In  this  family  are  included  some  of  the 
choicest  twiners.  Possessed  of  handsome  foliage  and  bearing  a  profusion 
of  fragrant  flowers,  they  may  be  employed  to  great  advantage  for  the  deco- 
ration of  both  house  and  garden.  For  the  veranda  and  porch  they  are 
especially  desirable,  and  when  trained  on  a  trellis  in  the  garden  or  allowed 
to  twine  around  a  tree  they  produce  a  fine  effect.  There  are  several  varie- 
ties, but  I  will  name  only  a  few  of  the  best. 

Honeysuckle— Hall's  Japan — This  variety,  though  not  new,  is  compar- 
atively rare.  It  is  called  an  evergreen  shrub,  because  its  leaves  are  green 
the  entire  year.  We  all  know  how  delightful  it  is  to  get  a  glimpse  of  green 
foliage  in  the  midst  of  winter.  A  plant  of  this  variety  trained  to  our  front 
veianda  will  enable  us  to  indulge  in  this  luxury,  at  little  trouble  or  expense. 
Then  its  white-and-yellow  fragrant  flowers  are  produced  in  great  abundance 
from  June  to  November.  It  is  the  best  Honeysuckle  we  have,  and,  in  my 
opinion,  one  of  the  most  valuable  climbers  in  the  entire  collection. 

The  Monthly  Fragrant,  or  Dutch  Honeysuckle,  has  red-and-yellow 
flowers,  which  are  very  fragrant. 

Brown's  Scarlet  Trumpet  Honeysuckle,  with  bright  scarlet  flowers, 
should  be  included  in  a  collection. 

The  Japan  Golden-Leaved  Honeysuckle  has  foliage  beautifully  netted 
or  variegated  with  yellow ;  but,  as  it  is  not  entirely  hardy,  it  can  be  used  to 
better  advantage  in  baskets,  vases,  or  as  an  indoor  climber. 

Bignonia,  or  Trumpet  Flower — This  well-known  creeper  has  luxuriant 
pinnate  foliage,  and  produces  large  trumpet-shaped  scarlet  flowers  in  August. 
For  growing  on  stumps  of  trees,  rooteries,  and  arbors  it  is  valuable.  A 
variety  called  atrosanguinea  has  purplish  crimson  flowers. 

Akebia  quinata,  a  climber,  still  quite  rare,  although  brought  to  notice 
some  years  ago.  Its  foliage  is  delicate  and  pretty  and  its  flowers  bluish 
violet  and  sweet-scented.  It  does  well  trained  on  a  wall  or  trellis.  For 
those  who  desire  something  that  is  not  common,  this  may  be  suggested. 

Ivy,  English — When  we  think  of  the  ivy-clad  cottages,  churches,  and 
towers  in  England,  we  sigh  and  wish  that  we  too  might  be  favored  with  a 
similarly  mild,  moist  climate,  in  order  that  the  ivy  might  luxuriate  here,  as 
it  does  there. 


VINES  AND  CREEPERS.  21 

( )n  account  of  our  severe  winters,  it  cannot  be  recommended  for  general 
cultivation  in  this  latitude,  except  on  the  north  and  east  sides  of  buildings, 
and  then  it  will  require  a  little  protection.  Its  special  value  for  us  is  for 
culture  indoors. 

Periploca  Grseca,  or  Virginia  Silk  Vine,  is  a  vigorous  twining  vine, 
with  large  glossy  foliage  and  small  velvety  brown  axillary  clusters  of  flowers. 
It  grows  rapidly,  and  may  be  used  with  fine  effect  to  cover  trees.  As  the 
odor  of  the  flowers  is  not  agreeable,  it  should  never  be  planted  near  the 
house. 

Menispermum  Canadense  (Moonseed) — A  very  pretty  climber,  of  slen- 
der growth  and  producing  small  yellow  flowers.  Used  in  connection  with 
the  Arbor  Vitae,  as  previously  suggested,  it  becomes  very  valuable  for  deco- 
rative purposes. 

Clematis — Within  the  last  ten  years  the  hardy  Clematis  has  been  won- 
derfully improved,  and  the  newer  sorts  now  in  cultivation  are  justly  re- 
garded as  the  most  beautiful  and  striking  ornaments  known  for  garden  dec- 
oration. Contrary  to  the  general  impression,  the  severest  winters  do  not 
injure  them,  when  slightly  protected  with  straw  or  leaves.  In  order  to  in- 
duce a  long  succession  of  bloom,  liberal  culture  is  absolutely  necessary,  and 
a  deep,  well-drained  soil  consisting,  of  loam,  rotten  manure,  and  leaf-mould 
is  the  most  suitable  to  plant  them  in.  Duiing  the  warm,  dry  weather  in 
summer,  liquid  manure  may  be  given  them  advantageously,  and  every  year 
the  surface  of  the  ground  around  them  should  be  mulched  with  manure,  to 
keep  up  their  strength.  The  Clematis  is  a  gross  feeder  and  must  be  fed 
well  to  flower  freely. 

It  may  be  used  in  many  ways,  either  trained  on  verandas,  walls,  or  trel- 
li>-work,  or  planted  in  rockwork  and  root  cries  ;  or  they  make  superb  single 
specimens  on  the  lawn,  trained  to  some  ornamental  support.  They  may 
also  be  employed  as  permanent  bedding  plants,  and  pegged  down,  like  the 
verbena,  or  with  a  wire  support  of  neat  design,  raised  about  a  foot  from  the 
ground,  to  run  on,  very  pretty  beds  may  be  formed.  On  trees  and  arbors 
their  showy  and  handsome  flowers  are  very  effective.  Some  of  the  choicest 
varieties  are  as  follows  : 

Jackmannii,  violet  purple,  is  the  best,  all  things  considered ;  Miss  Bate- 
man,  pure  white  and  somewhat  fragrant ;  Lady  Londesboroilgh,  of  a  sil- 
very-gray color,  with  a  paler  bar  on  each  sepal. 

Velutina  purpurea,  blackish  mulberry  purple,  the  deepest  colored 
of  all  the  varieties  of  this  type.  Viticella  venosa,  reddish  pur- 
ple, veined  with  crimson.  Lady  Stratford  de  Redcliffe,  a  new  vari- 
ety, of  a  delicate  mauve  color  and  the  anthers  chocolate  red.  Otto 
Froebel,  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  varieties  yet  obtained  ;  flowers  grayish 
white  or  French  white,  and  of  a  thick,  fleshy  texture. 

Marie  Lefebvre — Pale,  silvery  mauve,  with  a  deep  mauve-colored  bar. 
This  list  would  be  incomplete  were  we  to  omit  that  old  favorite,  which  I  re- 
gret to  say  is  too  rarely  met  with,  the  European  Sweet  Clematis  (flam- 
mula),  which  has  always  been  so  highly  esteemed  for  the  fragrance  of  its 
blossoms.  It  flowers  freely  in  the  summer  and  autumn  months  and  does 
well  on  pillars,  trellises,  etc.  The  American  White  Clematis  (Virginiana) 
is  also  an  admirable  climber.  It  produces  a  great  profusion  of  flowers  in 
August,  followed  by  very  conspicuous  seed-plumes. 


22  VINES  AND  CREEPERS. 

The  Chinese  Wistaria  is  unquestionably  the  most  elegant  climber  we 
have.  Its  long,  pendulous  clusters  of  pale  blue  flowers  render  it  a  charming 
object  when  in  blossom.  Trained  to  a  wire  trellis,  it  will  climb  the  highest 
wall  in  a  short  time.  In  the  City  of  New  York  it  is  employed  extensively 
for  decorating  the  fronts  of  dwellings.  It  appears  most  effective  when 
trained  horizontally  and  grown  like  a  grapevine  ;  also  when  allowed  to  climb 
over  evergreens,  as  above  described. 

The  Chinese  White  Wistaria  is  a  variety  of  the  above  and  very  desir- 
able. Recently  a  new  double  purple  variety  has  been  brought  to  notice, 
and  it  promises  to  be  an  acquisition. 

Climbing  Roses — These  are  indispensable  in  every  garden.  The  best 
of  them  are  Baltimore  .Belle,  Queen  of  the  Prairies,  and  Bennett's 
Seedling.  The  Climbing  Hybrid  Roses,  an  interesting  class,  promise  to 
be  very  valuable.  Although  they  are  less  rampant  in  growth  than  the 
Prairie  Roses,  their  fine  blooms  make  them  more  desirable  in  every  respect. 
There  are  several  varieties  which  merit  attention,  for  the  names  of  which 
the  Rose  catalogue  may  be  rererred  to. 

Class    II. — Tender  Climbing  Plants. 

The  following  annuals  may  be  grown  from  seed,  and  are  very  useful  for 
the  summer  decoration  of  the  garden : 

Adlumia  oirrhosa, 
Balloon  Vine. 
Canary  Bird  Flower. 
Convolvulus. 
Cypress  Vine. 
Eccremocarpus. 
Gourds,  ornamental. 
Ipomoea. 
Loasa. 

Lophospermum. 
Sweet  Peas. 
Tropaeolum. 

Greenhouse  Climbers  which  may  be  planted  out  of  doors  in  summer. 

Coboea  Scandens. 
German  Ivy. 
Passion  Flower. 
Physianthus  Albens. 

Pilogyne  suavls — This  is  a  superb  plant  for  verandas,  also  for  culture 
in  the  window-garden. 


THE   NEWER   STRAWBERRIES 

IN  1879. 


the  Country  Gentleman  July  .'. 

In  this  vicinity  the  season  of  1879  has  been  a  very  favorable  one  for  the 
strawberry.  A  somewhat  protracted  drouth,  in  May,  threatened  serious  in- 
jury to  the  crop,  but  copious  showers  about  the  first  of  June,  at  the  time 
the  berries  were  setting,  secured  a  fair  crop  of  finer  fruit  than  is  usually 
seen.  In  the  Rochester  market,  immense  quantities  of  strawberries  have 
been  handled.  As  an  instance  of  this,  I  quote  from  the  Union  of  recent 
date,  as  follows:  ''The  sale  of  strawberries  during  the  past  few  days  hzs 
been  unprecedented,  and  a  leading  groceryman  informed  a  reporter  of 
this  paper,  that  the  day  before  yesterday  he  sold  2,000  quarts ;  yesterday  he 
disposed  of  4,000,  and  this  morning  before  eight  o'clock  he  had  sold  1,500 
quarts."  When  we  consider  the  large  quantity  many  other  grocerymen  like 
the  above  must  have  sold,  together  with  what  the  dealers  shipped  out  of 
town,  we  will  find  that  the  daily  sales  of  strawberries  have  been  unusually 
large.  At  Cleveland,  where  this  fruit  is  cultivated  on  a  more  extensive 
scale  than  at  Rochester,  the  sales  are  said  to  have  amounted  to  2,000  buJ> 
els  a  day.  Besides  an  increasing  demand,  it  is  gratifying  to  note  that  the 
larger  and  finer-flavored  varieties  are  becoming  better  known  and  appreci- 
ated. When  Wilson's  was  selling  at  six  cents  a  quart,  Sharpless  sold  for 
twelve,  and  Triomphe  de  Gand,  Jucunda,  Cumberland  Triumph  and  Mon- 
arch, for  eight  and  ten  cents.  Of  such  varieties  there  has  not  been  nearly 
enough  fruit  to  satisfy  the  demand,  and  growers  will  consult  their  interests 
by  giving  more  attention  to  the  larger  and  better  kinds. 

The  favorable  season  has  afforded  us  a  fine  opportunity  to  test  the  many 
new  varieties  now  on  trial.  These  novelties  have  revived  the  interest  in 
strawberry  culture,  and  all  over  the  country  there  are  enthusiastic  amateurs 
and  growers  who  are  waiting  anxiously  for  the  result  of  this  year's  experience. 
We  propose  to  give  ours  as  briefly  as  possible. 

Arranging  the  sorts  alphabetically,  Cinderella  first  claims  attention.  It 
is  one  of  Mr.  Felton's  seedlings,  and  was  sent  out  in  1876.  The  fruit  is  of 
medium  to  large  size,  conical,  regularly  formed,  and  of  a  bright,  glossy- 
scarlet  color ;  flesh  firm,  solid,  with  a  mild,  rich,  aromatic  flavor ;  plant 
vigorous  and  prolific.  It  is  a  handsome  strawberry,  and  in  quality  fully 
equal  to,  if  not  better,  than  Triomphe  de  Gand.  It  will  undoubtedly  prove 
very  desirable  for  the  amateur's  garden.  Continental,  another  of  Mr.  Fel- 
ton's seedlings,  and  sent  out  with  the  above,  is  of  medium  to  large  size, 
obtusely  conical,  regularly  formed,  and  of  a  dark-red,  almost  black,  color 
when  fully  ripe  ;  flesh  firm  and  of  fair  quality,  but  inferior  to  Cinderella  ; 
plant  vigorous  and  very  productive.  Crescent  Seedling,  which  appeared  so 
promising  last  year,  has  disappointed  us  greatly  this  season — not  in  produc- 
tiveness, but  in  quality.  Nevertheless,  it  is  an  improvement  o«  the  Wilson, 
and  having  proved  to  be  wonderfully  prolific,  must,  on  that  account,  still 
claim  a  good  deal  of  attention  as  a  market  berry.  Captain  Jack  is  another 
variety,  the  quality  of  which  does  not  rank  high,  and  it  has  the  serious  fault 


24  THE  NEWER  STRAWBERRIES  IN  1879. 

of  overbearing.  A  large  portion  of  its  fruit  does  not  mature  sufficiently  to 
render  it  marketable.  Grown  in  hills  under  high  culture,  it  may  be  of  great 
value  in  some  localities.  In  Ohio,  several  strawberry-growers  esteem  it  very 
highly,  some  going  so  far  as  to  call  it  the  best  variety.  Cumberland  Tri- 
umph is  one  of  the  newer  varieties  which,  with  us,  has  proved  a  real  acquisi- 
tion. The  fruit  is  large,  regular,  very  uniform,  and  of  a  beautiful  bright-red 
color ;  unquestionably  one  of  the  handsomest  berries  known.  In  quality  it 
is  good ;  plant  vigorous  and  productive.  It  is  not  firm  enough  to  ship  long 
distances,  but  will  be  valuable  for  home  market  on  account  of  its  uniform 
size  and  attractive  appearance.  Duncan,  of  medium  size,  has  an  exceed- 
ingly agreeable  flavor,  and  may  be  regarded  as  a  valuable  addition  to  the 
list  of  good  garden  sorts.  Duchess  is  early,  and  the  fruit  large  and  hand- 
some. In  quality,  it  can  only  be  rated  as  good,  but  is  worthy  of  culture  on 
account  of  its  size  and  earliness.  The  plants  are  not  productive  enough  to 
render  it  a  profitable  market  variety.  Forest  Rose  is  of  large  size  and  fine 
quality.  The  plant  is  a  strong  grower  and  quite  productive,  but  is  often 
injured  by  the  sun. 

Glendale,  one  of  the  latest  introductions,  has  not  fruited  upon  our  grounds, 
but  a  fine  exhibition  of  the  fruit  was  made  at  the  Nurserymen's  Convention 
lately  held  in  Cleveland,  where  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  and  testing  it. 
The  fruit  is  large,  conical,  and  of  a  bright  red  color ;  flesh  firm  and  of  mod- 
erate flavor.  The  size  and  appearance  may  render  it  valuable  as  a  market 
fruit,  but  I  do  not  think  it  will  ever  become  popular  for  the  amateur's  gar- 
den. A  trial  of  it  at  home  may  change  our  opinion.  Golden  Defiance, 
raised  by  Mr.  Miller,  originator  of  the  Cumberland  Triumph,  is  a  large 
berry,  roundish,  regular  and  of  a  dark  crimson  color;  flesh  moderately 
firm,  solid,  of  delicate  texture,  and  of  fair  quality.  The  fruit  stalks  are 
remarkably  short,  which  is  a  serious  objection ;  plant  vigorous  and  moder- 
ately productive.  It  ripens  late,  and  may  be  valuable  on  that  account. 
Great  American  has  not  improved  much  in  my  estimation.  It  is  quite  pro- 
ductive, but  a  large  proportion  of  the  berries  do  not  attain  full  size.  Proba- 
bly if  planted  near  a  variety  with  abundance  of  pollen,  it  might  do  better. 
A  well-known  strawberry-grower  says :  "  Plant  the  Forest  Rose  near  it,  and 
you  are  sure  of  a  good  crop."  The  berry  is  high  flavored  and  may  be 
worthy  of  further  trial.  It  should  be  grown  in  hills,  and  must  have  good 
culture.  Miner's  Great  Prolific  is  large  to  very  large,  roundish,  and  of  a 
bright  crimson  color,  but  the  flesh  is  soft  and  deficient  in  flavor.  On  account 
of  its  size  and  fine  appearance  I  consider  it  worthy  of  further  trial.  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  averages  large  to  very  large,  irregular,  and  of  a  bright  glossy 
red  color  ;  flesh  moderately  firm,  with  a  marked  Hautbois  flavor,  rendering- 
it  very  desirable  for  the  garden.  Sharpless  is  unquestionably  the  best  new 
strawberry.  This  was  my  opinion  last  year,  and  every  report  received  thus 
far  proves  that  I  was  not  mistaken.  We  planted  largely  of  it  this  last  spring 
for  market.  Springdale,  another  of  Mr.  Miller's  seedlings,  did  not  do  well 
with  us  last  year,  but  has  borne  a  good  crop  of  fine  fruit  this  season.  In 
hot,  dry  weather  the  plants  sometimes  suffer.  We  think  enough  of  it  to  give 
it  another  trial.  Star  of  the  West  is  unproductive  and  therefore  of  no  value. 
Centennial  Favorite,  Pioneer,  Beauty,  Glossy  Cone,  all  of  them  Durand's 
seedlings,  have  not  yet  been  sufficiently  tested  to  give  a  fair  opinion  of  them. 
Champion,  Crystal  City,  Windsor  Chief  and  Damask  Beauty,  must  fruit 
again  before  their  value  can  be  determined.  Longfellow,  a  new  seedling 
raised  by  A.  D.  Webb  of  Kentucky,  was  shown  at  Cleveland.  The  fruit 
was,  large  and  handsome,  but  the  quality  not  of  the  highest  character. 


RASPBERRIES-OLD    AND    NEW 
VARIETIES. 


in  tin-  Aiifi'inin  Ai/i-u-nltnri.^  O'-to/x'.j;  /A'?.'/.] 

The  varieties  of  the  Raspberry  are  now  very  numerous,  and  as  each  one 
is  represented  to  possess  some  special  merit,  the  amateur,  as  well  as  fruit- 
u  rower,  is  often  puzzled  to  determine  which  are  the  best.  For  the  purpose 
of  giving  the  many  kinds  a  thorough  trial,  we  planted  a  few  years  ago,  in 
our  private  garden,  a  complete  collection,  adding  the  novelties  as  they 
appeared.  The  plants  have  borne  an  abundant  crop  this  season,  and 
afforded  an  oportunity  to  judge  of  their  merits. 

Philad^lphi-a — The  parent  of  several  varieties  superior  to  it  in  size  and 
quality,  is  still  esteemed  in  some  localities  as  a  market  variety.  ^  The  fruit 
is  too  poor  to  render  it  of  any  value  for  the  garden. 

Reliance — A  seedling  from  the  Philadelphia,  and  of  recent  introduction, 
is  of  stocky  habit,  with  dark,  heavy  foliage,  vigorous,  productive,  and  appar- 
ently perfectly  hardy ;  fruit  large,  roundish,  dark  red,  firm,  with  a  sprightly, 
acid  flavor,  and  remains  in  good  condition  sometime  after  it  is  ripe.  Prom- 
ising for  either  field  or  garden  culture. 

Early  Prolific — Another  comparatively  new  variety  of  the  same  parent- 
age, is  also  of  stocky  habit,  vigorous,  hardy,  and  very  productive ;  fruit 
large,  dark  red,  moderately  firm,  and  of  a  brisk,  vinous  flavor,  not  rich.  Its 
productiveness  will  make  it  desirable  for  the  garden  and  home  market,  but 
the  fruit  is  too  soft  for  shipping. 

Herstine — Said  to  be  a  seedling  from  the  Allen  ;  is  a  vigorous  grower, 
abundant  bearer,  and  quite  hardy ;  fruit  large,  roundish,  conical,  moderately 
firm,  sxveet  and  rich,  valuable  for  family  use  and  home  market. 

Saunders — Claimed  also  to  be  a  seedling  from  the  Allen,  is  a  strong 
grower  and  good  bearer,  but  as  the  fruit  is  only  of  fair  quality,  it  hardly 
deserves  a  place  in  a  collection. 

Highland  Hardy,  which  originated  in  Ulster  County,  X.  V..  is  vigorous, 
hardy,  and  productive  ;  fruit  of  medium  size  and  inferior  quality.  It  is  the 
earliest  of  all  the  raspberries,  and  on  that  account  may  be  included,  to  some 
extent,  in  every  collection,  while  its  hardiness,  productiveness,  and  good 
shipping  qualities  render  it  profitable  for  market. 

Turner — A  Western  variety  is  said  to  excel  all  other  kinds  in  hardiness. 
It  is  a  very  strong  grower ;  quite  productive;  fruit  moderately  firm,  juicy, 
and  sweet.  It  remains  to  be  seen  whether  it  will  be  valuable  for  market. 
In  our  opinion,  the  fruit  lacks  the  requisite  firmness.  Its  entire  hardiness 
renders  it  valuable  for  cold  climates,  but  for  this  locality  we  have  better  sorts. 

Brandy  wine,  or  Susqueeo — Cultivated  extensively  in  Delaware  for 
market  is  a  good  grower,  hardy,  and  productive ;  fruit  large,  firm,  bright 
scarlet,  but  lacks  flavor  ;  bears  transportation  well,  and  is  regarded  as  a 
profitable  market  sort. 


26  RASPBERRIES— OLD  AND  NEW  VARIETIES. 

Thwack,  introduced  recently,  is  said  to  be  a  cross  between  Brandywine 
and  Herstine,  and  resembles  the  former.  It  is  hardy,  productive,  and  the 
fruit  firm,  but  not  of  the  first  quality. 

Delaware — Comparatively  new ;  said  to  be  a  seedling  from  the  Hornet ; 
has  not  borne  sufficiently  to  develop  its  qualities.  We  are  inclined  to  think 
it  lacking  in  flavor ;  probably  profitable  for  market. 

Burlington,  or  Prosser,  an  old  variety,  now  rarely  met  with,  succeeds 
admirably  with  us.  It  is  very  hardy,  robust,  and  prolific  ;  fruit  large,  firm, 
and  of  fair  quality.  We  would  give  it  the  preference  to  many  new  varieties 
now  grown  for  market,  while  it  is  also  entitled  to  a  place  in  the  garden. 

Henrietta,  from  Connecticut,  is  the  latest  novelty,  and  remarkable  for  the 
great  size  of  some  of  its  berries.  They  are  not  high  flavored,  however,  nor 
are  they  uniformly  of  very  large  size.  The  plant  is  a  robust  grower,  hardy, 
and  productive.  Some  assert  that  it  is  identical  with  Belle  de  Fontenay, 
which  it  resembles  in  habit  and  foliage,  but  we  have  never  seen  so  many  nor 
such  large  berries  on  that,  as  the  Henrietta  produced  this  season.  In  autumn 
we  will  compare  their  later  bearing  qualities,  and  can  then  decide  more 
satisfactorily. 

Caroline,  claimed  to  be  a  cross  between  Brinckle's  Orange  and  Cata- 
wissa,  has  not  borne  with  us  yet.  It  is  described  as  a  large,  luscious  berry, 
of  orange  color,  and  perfectly  hardy.  The  only  defect  of  the  Orange  is  its 
liability  to  injury  in  severe  winters.  If  this  variety  is  of  good  quality  and 
hardy,  it  is  an  important  acquisition. 

Cuthbert  we  have  not  yet  fruited,  but  if  it  is  as  represented,  a  hardy, 
firm,  red  raspberry,  of  excellent  quality,  it  is  just  what  is  required  now. 
We  shall  watch  it  with  interest. 

Pride  of  the  Hudson,  and  Queen  of  the  Market  have  not  yet  been 
tested.  The  former  appears  to  be  tender  with  us. 

Among  the  older  sorts,  the  Hudson  River  Red  Antwerp,  so  well-known 
and  extensively  grown  on  the  Hudson  River,  is  not  sufficiently  productive. 
Belle  de  Palluau  has  not  been  a  success  either.  Parnel],  originated  near 
Cincinnati  some  years  ago,  is  hardy  and  productive ;  fruit  large,  conical, 
dark  red,  moderately  firm,  juicy,  quality  fair. 

Clarke — Next  to  the  Brinckle's  Orange,  is,  without  doubt,  the  best  rasp- 
berry for  the  amateur's  garden.  The  plant  is  robust,  very  hardy,  and  pro- 
ductive. On  rich  ground  it  suckers  freely,  and  sometimes  requires  vigorous 
thinning  to  keep  it  in  good  condition  for  bearing;  fruit  of  large  size,  bright 
red,  and  in  quality  is  almost,  if  not  fully,  equal  to  the  best  foreign  sorts.  It 
was  raised  from  seed  by  E.  E.  Clarke,  New  Haven,  Conn.,  in  1856. 

Brinckle's  Orange  is  the  highest  flavored  of  all  the  raspberries ;  fruit 
large,  obtuse  conical,  orange  color,  soft,  sweet,  delicious ;  the  best  of  all 
for  the  table.  The  plant,  unfortunately,  is  a  little  tender,  and  must  be  well 
protected  in  winter. 

Col.  Wilder  is  a  fine-flavored,  yellowish-white  raspberry,  and  would  be 
desirable  for  the  garden  if  hardier  and  more  productive. 

Knevett's  Giant  is  a  splendid  fruit,  certainly  one  of  the  finest  for  family 
use,  but  the  plants  are  not  sufficiently  prolific.  Fastolff,  another  fine  berry, 
does  not  bear  well,  producing  more  wood  than  fruit.  Franconia,  like  the 


RASPBERRIES-OLD  AND  NEW  VARIETIES.  27 

two  last  mentioned,  fails  to  produce  a  satisfactory  crop.  The  berries  are  of 
tine  quality.  Where  the  winters  are  not  so  severe  as  with  us,  all  three 
would  be  of  great  value. 

Belle  de  Fontenay  is  a  very  strong  grower,  and  moderately  productive. 
It  is  valuable  only  for  its  autumnal  crop,  and  in  order  to  insure  this,  many 
of  the  suckers  must  be  removed.  The  fruit  is  then  produced  on  canes  of 
the  same  season's  growth,  as  well  as  on  those  of  the  previous  year.  Many 
are  tempted  to  discard  this  variety,  but,  when  properly  treated,  it  well  repays 
the  trouble  taken  with  it. 

Naomi,  regarded  by  some  as  the  same  as  Franconia ;  is  a  distinct  variety 
with  us.  It  is  a  good  red  raspberry,  but  superseded  by  others.  The  same 
may  be  said  of  Victoria.  English  Superb  is  not  productive,  and  Imper- 
ial Red  is  not  worthy  of  cultivation.  Gambon  is  a  good  variety,  but  its 
place  is  already  filled  with  good  kinds. 

Mrs.  Wood,  of  the  Philadelphia  type,  is  equally  productive,  and  a  much 
better  fruit.  It  ripens  late. 

Vice-President  French,  raised  by  Dr.  Brinckle  from  the  Fastolff,  crossed 
with  Yellow  Antwerp  is  a  first-class  variety ;  canes  are  robust,  branching, 
hardy,  and  do  not  sucker  so  freely  as  some  kinds ;  fruit  large,  firm,  sweet, 
and  of  fine  quality.  Antwerp  Yellow  produces  a  fair  crop  of  fruit,  which 
is  not  of  the  highest  flavor.  Caesar  Blanc,  White  Imperial,  and  Jaune 
d'Anvers  are  moderate  growers  and  bearers,  and  the  Brinckle's  Orange  is 
so  much  superior  to  them  that  they  are  not  worthy  of  cultivation.  Of  the 

Black  Caps,  the  American  and  Seneca  are  superseded  by  the  Gregg  and 
Mammoth  Cluster.  The  Gregg  is  a  variety  of  great  promise.  Ohio  Ever- 
bearing, Davison's  Thornless,  Catawissa,  Ellisdale,  Ganarqua,  and  one 
of  the  new  varieties.  New  Rochelle,  are  of  such  a  dirty  color  and  inferior 
quality  that  they  are  not  worthy  of  being  included  in  any  collection.  The 
Ohio  Everbearing  and  Gatawissa  may  be  valued  in  some  places  as  fall- 
.bearing  sorts,  but  we  consider  the  fruit  too  poor  to  be  of  much  value  at  any 
season.  Of  the 

Yellow  Cap  Raspberries.  Hawkins'  Orange,  which  is  said  to  have 
originated  recently  in  Western  New  York,  is  the  most  valuable.  It  is  ex- 
ceedingly productive,  and  the  fruit  is  of  fair  quality.  Minnesota  Salmon 
we  have  discarded.  The  Florence,  a  new  sort,  is  said  to  be  promising.  In 
conclusion,  there  does  not  appear  to  be  any  among  the  newer  sorts  which 
are  destined  to  supersede  the  old  favorites  for  the  garden.  The  new  Rasp- 
berries are  nearly  all  for  market,  and  as  such,  show  some  progress. 

For  a  small  collection  for  family  use,  we  would  name  the  following 
choice  varieties : 

Brinckle's  Orange.  Vice-President  French. 

Clarke.  Mammoth  Cluster  or  Gregg. 

For  a  greater'  variety,  add  the  following  : 
Highland  Hardy,  the  earliest.  Herstine. 

Knevett's  Giant.  Reliance. 

Belle  de  Fontenay,  fall  bearing. 

For  market : 

Brandywine.  Reliance. 

Clarke.  Turner. 

Highland  Hardy.  Mammoth  Cluster  or  Gregg, 


WEEPING    TREES. 


A     PAPER     READ     BEFORE      THE      WESTERN     N.     Y.      HORTICULTURAL      SOCIETY 
AT    ROCHESTER,     JANUARY     24'1H,     1878. 

In  this  class  are  embraced  the  most  charming  examples  of  ornamental 
trees.  Graceful  in  outline,  elegant  and  novel  in  their  mode  of  growth,  im- 
pressive and  attractive  in  appearance,  they  possess  all  those  characteristics 
of  growth  and  foliage  which  render  them  especially  desirable  and  valuable 
for  the  embellishment  of  landscapes  and  the  ornamentation  of  grounds.  The 
beautiful  cut-leaved  Weeping  Birch,  sometimes  called  the  Lady  Birch,  with 
its  bright  bark  glistening  in  the  summer's  sun  and  its  graceful  drooping 
branches,  swaying  in  the  lightest  breeze,  is  a  worthy  subject  for  the  artist's 
pencil  and  the  poet's  pen.  In  winter,  too,  covered  with  ice  and  illumined 
with  the  brilliant  rays  of  the  setting  sun,  its  trembling  branches  apparently 
studded  with  innumerable  brilliants,  it  presents  a  charming  picture,  attract- 
ing the  attention  and  winning  the  admiration  of  even  the  most  careless  and 
indifferent  observer.  This  elegant  tree,  which  Mr.  Scott  very  appropriately 
calls  ''the  most  exquisite  of  modern  sylvan  belles,"  was  introduced  and  first 
offered  for  sale  in  this  country  by  Ellwanger  &  Barry  about  the  year  1851. 
Henry  W.  Sargent,  Esq.,  writing  to  the  Horticulturist  from  German)  in 
1848,  and  describing  Booth's  nursery  at  Holstein,  stated  that  "among  tiees 
and  shrubs  new  to  me  I  noticed  a  Weeping  Birch  peculiar  to  Germany.  It 
had  descending  shoots  32  feet  long.  The  branches  hung  as  perpendicular 
downward  as  those  of  the  Sophora  pendula  or  the  common  weeping  willow 
and  are  quite  as  pensile  as  the  latter."  From  this  description  Messrs.  E.  & 
B.  at  once  concluded  that  this  must  be  a  very  desirable  and  valuable  tree, 
and  they  immediately  ordered  a  specimen  to  be  forwarded  to  them.  In  due 
time  it  came,  was  planted,  and  as  soon  as  possible,  a  large  stock  of  young 
trees  was  obtained.  No  novelty  was  ever  received  with  greater  enthusiasm, 
or  gave  more  general  satisfaction  than  this.  The  demand  was  so  great  that 
for  several  years  from  5,000  to  15,000  stocks  were  budded  annually.  Until 
the  month  of  November  last  the  original  imported  tree  stood  in  their  nursery 
grounds  a  living  monument,  full  of  beauty  and  grace,  adorning  the  land- 
scape, and  gaining  for  itself  hosts  of  admirers.  Unfortunately,  however, 
being  in  the  way  of  projected  improvements,  it  had  to  be  destroyed,  much 
to  the  regret  of  those  who  had  seen  it  planted,  and  watched'  its  growth  for 
nearly  twenty-five  years.  In  view  of  the  many  interesting  facts  associated 
with  it,  it  had  already  become  a  historical  tree,  but  fifty  years  hence,  when 
its  offspring  will  be  found  in  every  city  and  hamlet  of  this  great  country,  it 
would  have  been,  could  it  have  been  left  standing,  remarkably  interesting 
to  the  admirers  of  characteristic  and  note-worthy  trees.  Mr.  Scott,  who 
evidently  appreciates  the  value  of  this  Birch  for  ornamental  planting,  says 
that — 

"  It  stands  the  acknowledged  queen  of  all  the  airy  graces  with  which 
lightsome  trees  coquette  with  the  sky  and  summer  air.  It  lacks  no  charm 
essential  to  its  rank.  Erect,  slender,  tall,  it  gains  height  only  to  bend  its 


WEEPING  TREES.  29 


silvery  spray,  with  a  caressing  grace  on  every  side.  Like  our  magnificent 
Weepin-  Kim.  but  lighter,  smaller  and  brighter  in  all  its  features,  it  rapidly 
lifts  its  head  amon-  fts  compeers  till  it  overtops  them,  and  then  spreads  its 
branches,  drooping  and  subdividing  into  the  most  delicate  silvery  branchlets, 
whose  | 'ensile  ijrace  is  only  equalled  by  those  of  the  Weeping  Willow." 

Although  extensively  planted  in  all  parts  of  this  country,  it  is  far  from 
enjoying  'that  universal  recognition  to  which  its  merits  justly  entitle  it. 
\Vhile  [was  surprised  to  note  its  absence  in  the  finer  European  parks  and 
gardens.  1  am  still  more  astonished  to  see  so  few  fine  examples  in  a  city 
where  it  has  been  propagated  by  the  thousands  for  years.  The  managers  of 
our  parks,  too,  have  evinced  great  indifference  toward  this  tree,  if  we  may 
judge  from  the  small  number  of  fine  specimens  to  be  found  growing  in  them. 
Strange  as  it  may  appear,  it  seems  to  have  been  reserved  for  the  projector? 
of  one  of  the  fine  parks  m  the  West  to  properly  employ  this  truly  noble  tree, 
by  planting  one  of  their  leading  avenues  with  it.  All  honor  to  the  gentle- 
men of  Chicago,  who,  realizing  the  surpassing  charms  and  beauties  of  this 
Birch,  have  not  only  formed  an  avenue  which  will  do  credit  to  the  park  and 
themselves  for  all  times  to  come,  but  will  teach,  stimulate  and  encourage 
similar  efforts  in  other  places. 

The  Out  Leaved  Birch  is  one  of  those  trees  which  is  complete  in  itself. 
It  has  no  defects  of  habit  which  require  to  be  concealed,  and  should  always 
be  planted  by  itself  in  the  most  prominent  and  conspicuous  position  on  the 
lawn.  Although  it  is  a  rapid  grower  and  attains  to  considerable  size,  it  is 
equally  well  adapted  for  large  and  small  grounds,  and  wherever  planted 
always  contributes  towards  rendering  a  landscape  charming  and  effective. 
For  avenue  planting  it  surpasses  all  other  trees.  I  have  in  my  mind  an 
avenue  which  has  been  planted  lately  in  our  city,  and  I  trust  the  time  is  not 
far  distant  when  we  shall  have  several.  Were  we  limited  to  a  single  orna- 
mental tree,  we  should  have  no  hesitation  in  selecting  this  in  preference  to 
any  other,  It  is  the  most  graceful  of  all  trees,  and  deserves  to  be  better 
l^nown  and  more  widely  disseminated. 

Young's  Weeping  Birch  is  a  new  and  interesting  variety,  which  is  ad- 
mirably adapted  "for  the  lawn.  It  was  discovered  about  twenty  years  ago 
by  Mr.  W.  Young,  of  Milford  Nursery,  England.  Owing  to  the  slenderness 
of  the  branches,  which,  in  the  original  plant  were  so  weak,  as  to  creep  along 
the  surface,  great  difficulty  was  experienced  in  propagating  it.  It  was  first 
offered  in  this  country  by  Ellwanger  &  Barry,  in  1873.  To  the  graceful 
elegance  peculiar  to  the  Birch  family  it  adds  the  odd  singular  erratic  habit 
of  "the  Weeping  Beech.  It  has  long,  slender,  thread-like  branchlets,  which 
fall  from  the  main  branches  like  spray.  Grafted  upon  stems  6  to  7  feet  high, 
it  can  be  grown  into  a  rounded,  regular  head,  like  the  Kilmarnock  Willow, 
or  left  to  itself,  it  will  send  up  a  leading  shoot,  with  side  branches  like  the 
cut-leaved,  only  more  spreading.  In  this  distinct  type  we  have  gracefulness 
and  pictiiresqueness  combined.  It  is  one  of  the  very  best  of  new  trees,  and 
worthy  of  being  introduced  into  every  garden. 

Betula  alba  pendula  elegans  is  another  charming  variety,  of  quite  re- 
cent introduction,  and.  as  yet.  but  little  known.  It  originated  with  the 
Messrs.  Bonamy  Bros.,  at  Toulouse,  France,  in  the  year  1866,  and  was  first 
exhibited  by  them  at  the  Paris  Universal  Exhibition  in  1867,  where  it  re- 

•ved  a  gold  medal,  the  highest  award  for  new  trees.  Ellwanger  &  Barry 
first  offered  it  in  this  country  in  1873.  Its  habit  of  growth  is  unique  and 
beautiful.  Grafted  on  stems  6  to  8  feet  high,  the  branches  grow  directly 


30  WEEPING   TREES. 


downwards,  parallel  with  the  stem.  Its  decided  pendulous  habit,  rich, 
handsome  foliage,  delicate  branches,  render  it  particularly  showy  and  at- 
tractive on  the  lawn.  Among  ornamental  trees  of  recent  introduction  this, 
and  Young's  Weeping  may  be  considered  the  most  valuable  acquisitions  of 
many  years. 

The  Kilmarnock  Weeping1  Willow  first  offered  in  this  country  by  Ell- 
wanger  &  Barry  in  1857,  is  now  so  well-known  as  to  need  no  description. 
Being  one  of  the  most  popular  and  widely  disseminated  of  weeping  trees, 
its  history  may  not  be  uninteresting.  It  was  discovered  growing  wild  in  a 
sequestered  corner  of  Monkwood  estate,  near  Ayr,  in  Scotland,  by  an  aged 
botanist,  named  John  Smith,  an  enthusiastic  lover  of  plants,  and  a  zealous 
collector.  From  him,  Mr.  Lang,  a  nurseryman  at  Kilmarnock,  purchased 
one  plant  in  the  year  1844. 

Sir  W.  J.  Hooker,  curator  of  Kew  Gardens,  received  two  plants  in  the 
spring  of  1852,  and  having  observed  how  exceedingly  ornamental  it  was, 
gave  Mr.  Lang  a  decided  opinion,  stating  that  he  thought  very  highly  of  it, 
and  that  it  was  much  admired  in  the  Royal  Garden  at  Kew.  The  name 
Kilmarnock  Weeping  Willow  was  given  to  distinguish  it  from  the  common 
weeping  willow  and  the  American  weeping  willow.  Of  all  weeping  trees,  it 
is  the  one  best  adapted  for  small  lawns,  garden  plots  or  yards.  Very  hand- 
some plants  may  now  be  obtained,  grafted  on  stems  six  to  eight  feet  high, 
for  training  into  umbrella  heads.  Grafted  low,  say  three  to  four  feet  high, 
with  the  head  nicely  kept  and  the  branches  trailing  on  the  ground,  it  becomes 
a  novel  and  interesting  object  on  the  lawn.  For  rounding  off  or  completing 
the  end  of  a  belt  or  border  of  trees  or  shrubs,  it  is  very  appropriate.  In 
my  tour  through  Scotland  the  past  summer,  I  did  not  meet  with  a  single 
specimen  of  this  tree,  either  in  the  parks,  nurseries  or  gardens,  and  I  am  at 
a  loss  to  know  why  it  is  so  little  esteemed  in  its  own  home  especially  since 
we  in  this  country  hardly  think  any  ornamental  tree  equal  to  it. 

The  Weeping  Beech  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  remarkable  of 
drooping  trees.  Its  habit  of  growth  is  odd  and  eccentric,  but  at  the  same 
time  picturesque  and  beautiful.  A  strong  grower,  its  branches  shoot  up- 
ward, then  outward,  twist  in  various  directions,  and  turn  into  a  variety  of 
shapes,  then  droop  and  trail  on  the  ground.  Divested  of  its  leaves,  it  is 
quite  ungainly ;  but  clothed  with  its  rich,  luxuriant  foliage,  it  presents  a 
magnificent  appearance.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  curious  of  lawn 
trees,  and  should  be  planted  by  itself,  where  it  can  have  abundance  of  room 
Large  specimens  often  cover  an  area  one  hundred  feet  in  diameter.  Its 
history  is  somewhat  remarkable.  Some  sixty  years  ago  Baron  de  Man's 
gardener,  at  Beersal,  Belgium,  was  planting  an  avenue  of  Beeches.  The 
Baron,  while  superintending  the  work,  noticed  among  the  trees  selected  for 
the  purpose,  one  poor  and  crooked  specimen,  and  rejected  it.  The  gardener 
thinking,  however,  that  it  possessed  some  merit,  planted  it  in  a  corner  of 
the  garden,  where  it  grew  to  be  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  trees.'  One  of 
the  noblest  specimens  I  have  seen  was  in  Mr.  Anthony  Waterer's  nurseries, 
at  Woking,  England. 

The  New  American  or  Fountain  Willow  is  a  well-known  pendulous 
variety,  which  forms  a  very  handsome  specimen  when  budded  standard  high. 
While  it  can  be  trained  in  umbrella  form  like  the  Kilmarnock  Willow,  it  is 
a  much  stronger  grower,  and  requires  more  space.  On  account  of  its  vig- 
orous growth,  it  is  much  more  difficult  to  keep  in  shape  than  the  Kilmarnock, 


WEEPING   TREES.  81 


and,  all  things  considered,  hardly  equal  to  that  variety  for  ornamental  plant- 
ing. It  is  a  trailing  species  of  American  Willow,  grafted  standard  high, 
and  was  introduced  from  France  about  the  year  1852. 

The  European  Weeping  Ash  is  a  well-known  weeping  tree  of  vigorous 
habit,  its  branches  spreading  at  first  horizontally,  but  gradually  drooping 
towards  the  ground.  Its  strong,  stiff  growth  does  not  render  it  as  graceful, 
and  ornamental  as  many  of  the  trees  of  this  class,  but  planted  singly  on  a 
large  lawn,  it  forms  an  interesting  object.  It  is  one  of  the  best  trees  for 
forming  an  arbor. 

The  White  Leaved  Weeping  Linden  is  a  handsome  drooping  variety, 
with  large  round  leaves,  of  a  grayish  green  color  above,  and  silvery  gray 
beneath.  Worked  upon  stocks  standard  high,  the  branches  shoot  out 
almost  horizontally,  and  as  they  increase  in  length  bend  gracefully  towards 
the  ground,  giving  to  the  tree  a  decidedly  pendulous  character.  Being  a 
strong  grower  it  requires  to  be  vigorously  pruned  to  keep  in  shape.  In  this 
way  it  can  be  trained  into  a  round  symmetrical  head,  and  will  always  be 
found  a  desirable  addition  to  any  collection,  on  account  of  its  distinct 
silvery  foliage,  which  contrasts  effectively  with  the  deep  green  of  other  trees. 

Of  Weeping  Elms  there  are  several  which  deserve  attention.  Our 
American  Elm  is  one  of  the  most  noble  an4  stately  of  weeping  trees.  It  is 
so  well-known,  that  any  notice  of  it  here  would  be  superfluous,  but  it  may 
be  proper  to  remark  that  it  is  not  admissible  on  small  lawns. 

The  most  popular  of  weeping  Elms,  is  the  Camperdown,  a  very  picturesque 
and  elegant  tree  which  can  be  employed  with  the  most  satisfactory  results 
in  extensive  grounds,  as  well  as  in  small  garden  plots.  It  is  of  rank  growth, 
the  shoots  often  making  a  zigzag  growth  outward  and  downward  of  several 
feet  in  a  single  season.  The  leaves  are  large,  dark  green  and  glossy,  and 
cover  the  tree  with  a  luxuriant  mass  of  verdure.  By  a  judicious  use  of  the 
knife,  it  can  be  kept  very  regular  and  symmetrical  in  form,  and  a  handsome 
specimen  isolated  on  the  lawn,  will  always  arrest  attention  and  elicit  admi- 
ration. 

The  Scotch  Weeping  Elm  (montana  pendula),  is  a  drooping  variety, 
resembling  the  Camperdown,  but  not  so  good. 

The  Rough-leaved  Weeping  Elm  (rugosa  pendula),  is  a  pendulous 
variety  with  large  rough  leaves,  and  Elm  viminalis,  is  a  distinct  slender 
branched  variety,  very  ornamental  in  habit  and  foliage. 

The  Weeping  Mountain  Ash  has  probably  received  as  much  attention 
as  any  weeping  tree,  on  account  of  its  distinct  and  curious  habit.  A  careful 
examination  of  its  mode  of  growth  cannot  fail  to  excite  wonder.  If  worked 
two  or  three  feet  from  the  ground  and  allowed  to  grow  wild,  it  soon  becomes 
as  odd  a  piece  of  framework  as  it  is  possible  to  imagine.  I  have  an  indis- 
tinct recollection  of  one  I  saw  growing  in  this  manner,  and  at  the  time,  I 
considered  it  as  great  a  curiosity  as  I  had  ever  seen.  Grafted  six  to  eight 
feet  high,  it  becomes  a  very  desirable  lawn  tree,  and  in  the  autumn,  laden 
with  large  clusters  of  bright  red  fruit,  it  produces  a  brilliant  effect. 

The  Weeping  Poplar  (Populus  grandidentata  pendula),  although  not  so 
elegant  and  graceful  as  some  of  the  drooping  trees  we  have  mentioned,  has 
many  desirable  qualities  which  commend  it  to  the  admirers  of  fine  trees. 
Its  character  is  decidedly  pendulous,  and  its  branches  spread  and  droop 
gracefully  towards  the  ground.  But  the  knife  must  be  used  unsparingly 


32  WEEPING  TREES. 


to  preserve  the  symmetry.  It  is  the  most  rapid  grower  of  any  in  this  class, 
and  those  who  desire  a  weeper  which  will  produce  immediate  effect,  will  find 
their  wants  amply  requited  by  planting  this  tree. 

The  Black  Barked  Weeping  Poplar  and  the  Parasol  de  St.  Julien,  two 

varieties  recently  introduced  from  France,  are  almost  similar  to  the  above. 
Probably  the  most  remarkable  and  beautiful  tree  in  this  class,  and  one 
which  is  very  little  known  or  mentioned,  is  Bujot's  Weeping  Honey  Locust. 
It.  has  every  characteristic  of  habit  and  foliage  to  commend  it,  but  in  severe 
winters  it  is  liable  to  injury  from  frost.  Its  propagation  is  somewhat  difficult, 
which  will  always  make  it  expensive  and  rare.  Like  the  Weeping  Japan 
Sophora.  it  sometimes  succeeds  in  sheltered  positions.  I  know  of  only  one 
specimen  in  this  vicinity,  which  has  survived  the  severity  of  several  winters, 
unprotected.  Those  who  love  and  admire  fine  trees,  sufficiently  to  give 
them  the  necessary  protection,  will  feel  themselves  amply  repaid  for  any 
trouble  or  expense  they  may  incur  in  securing  a  specimen,  and  giving  it  the 
protection  it  requires. 

The  Weeping  Japan  Sophora,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  trees,  is  not 
quite  hardy  here,  and  is  not  propagated  in  the  nurseries.  We  have  a  fine 
specimen  tree,  however,  which  thrives  in  a  sheltered  position,  the  same  as 
that  occupied  by  the  Sequoia,  or  big  tree  of  California.  The  Golden  Barked 
Weeping  Ash,  a  handsome  weeper,  is  not  hardy. 

The  Weeping  Cherries — Everflowering  Weeping,  avium  pendula,  Bigar- 
reau  pendula,  are  all  pretty  lawn  trees,  but  not  sufficiently  known  to  be 
properly  appreciated.  On  some  future  occasion  I  hope  to  be  able  to  call 
attention  to  these  more  particularly.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind  by  those 
intending  to  plant  drooping  trees,  that  their  appropriate  position  is  always 
on  the  open  lawn,  single,  never  in  groups  or  masses,  nor  mixed  in  with  other 
trees  or  shrubs  in  belts  or  borders.  In  the  hands  of  the  skillful  planter  they 
are  capable  of  producing  the  most  charming  results,  and  are  more  effective  in 
giving  character  and  expression  to  a  landscape  than  any  other  trees.  I  ap- 
pend a  list  of  select  varieties  for  large  and  small  grounds  : 

SELECT    DROOPING    TREES    FOR    SMALL    GROUNDS. 

Kilmarnock  Weeping  Willow.  Weeping  Larch. 

Young's  Weeping  Birch.  American  Weeping  Willow. 

Cut-leaved  Weeping  Birch,  Camperdown  Weeping  Elm. 

Dwarf  Weeping  Cherry.  Birch  elegans  pendula. 

To  the  above  may  be  added — 

FOR    EXTENSIVE    GROUNDS. 

Ash,  European  Weeping.  Elm,  Scotch  Weeping. 

Beech,  Weeping.  Linden,  Weeping. 

Birch,  European  Weeping.  Weeping  Poplar. 

Birch,  tristis.  Weeping  Cherry. 

Elm,  Cork-barked  Weeping.  Mo.untain  Ash,  Weeping. 


HERBACEOUS  PEONIES. 


[Published  in  Rural  Life,  June,  1879.'] 

For  nearly  a  month  our  garden  borders  have  been  enlivened  with  the 
beautiful  and  showy  blooms  of  the  Herbaceous  Paeony.  Planted  among 
conifers,  flowering  shrubs  and  ornamental  trees,  their  gay-colored  flowers 
produce  a  charming  effect.  On  our  grounds  we  have  a  border  two  hundred 
feet  in  length,  and  fifteen  feet  in  width,  which  contains  a  choice  collection 
of  ornamental  trees,  conifers,  shrubs,  roses,  paeonies  and  hardy  border  plants. 
The  tall-growing  trees  and  evergreens  form  the  background,  the  shrubs  and 
trees  of  medium  size  come  next,  with  the  paeonies,  roses  and  border  plants 
in  the  foreground.  The  assortments  of  paeonies  when  in  flower  is  un- 
doubtedly the  most  interesting  feature  of  the  collection. 

On  our  nursery  grounds  a  large  circular  bed  about  twenty  feet  in  diame- 
ter, planted  with  the  most  showy  and  distinct  varieties,  has  during  these 
beautiful  June  days  attracted  great  attention.  It  is  surprising  that  so  noble 
a  flower,  almost  rivaling  the  rose  in  brillancy  of  color  and  perfection  of 
bloom,  and  the*Rhododendron  in  stately  growth,  should  be  so  neglected. 
Amateurs  seems  to  have  entirely  lost  sight  of  the  many  improved  varieties 
introduced  within  the  last  few  years,  and  our  finest  gardens,  perfect  in  other 
respects,  are  singularly  deficient  in  specimens  of  the  newer  kinds.  In  the 
hope  of  popularizing  to  some  extent  this  valuable  class  of  plants,  I  will 
briefly  refer  to  their  many  desirable  characteristics  of  growth  and  flower,  and 
at  the  same  time  furnish  the  names  of  a  few  choice  sorts. 

The  first  point  in  their  favor  is  hardiness.  It  may  be  truly  said  of  them 
that  they  are  "  hardy  as  an  oak."  In  the  severest  climates  the  plants 
require  no  other  protection  than  that  which  they  afford  themselves.  Then 
their  vigorous  habit  and  healthy  growth,  freedom  from  all  diseases  and 
insects,  are  important  arguments  in  favor  of  their  cultivation.  Growers  of 
roses  know  well  that  their  flowers  are  obtained  by  great  vigilance  and  care. 
Not  so  with  the  Paeony,  which,  when  once  planted,  all  is  done.  Each  suc- 
ceeding year  adds  to  their  size  and  beauty.  The  foliage  is  rich  and  glossy 
and  of  a  beautiful  deep-green  color,  thus  rendering  the  plants  very  orna- 
mental even  when  out  of  flower. 

The  newer  varieties  produce  very  large,  handsome,  regularly- formed  cup- 
ped blooms,  resembling  large  roses.  No  other  flower  is  so  well  adapted 
for  large,  showy  bouquets.  The  Paeony  may  be  planted  either  singly  on  the 
lawn  or  in  borders.  Where  the  lawn  is  extensive  a  large  bed  makes  a  grand 
show,  almost  equal  to  a  bed  of  Rhododendrons.  The  following  are  six  of 
the  best  and  most  distinct  kinds  : 

Modeste — Deep  rose,  very  large,  cupped  like  a  rose. 

Delachii — Dark  purplish  crimson  ;  the  best  dark  variety. 

Ambroise  Versehaffelt— Purplish  crimson,  very  full;  fragrant. 

Papillionacea — White,  superb  large  flower. 


34  HERBACEOUS  PAEONIES. 

Humei — Deep  rose  with  purple  shade  ;  very  full  and  double  ;  one  of  the 
latest  in  bloom. 

WMttlejii — White ;  center  slightly  yellowish  ;  fragrant. 

For  a  dozen  add  the  following  : 

Chas,  Verdier — Lilac  rose,  of  perfect  form;  cupped. 

Monsieur  Boucharlat — Bright  rosy  lilac ;  large,  full,  fragrant,  and  very 
late. 

Dr.  Bretonneail — Rosy  violet ;  large  and  of  fine  shape. 

Fulgida — Crimson  ;  profuse  flowering. 

Delicatissima— Flesh  color,  delicate  and  beautiful. 

Festiva — Pure  white,  with  a  few  marks  of  carmine  in  the  centre. 

Early- flowering    Varieties. 

Tenuifolia — Single  dark  crimson  ;  leaves  beautifully  cut. 
Rosea — Double  crimson  at  first,  changing  to  rose  ;  beautiful. 
Pulcherrima  plena  — Crimson,  with  purple  shade. 


NATIVE    FRUITS. 


A    PAPER    READ    BEFORE    THE    WESTERN    N.    Y.    HORTICULTURAL    SOCIETY    AT 
ROCHESTER,    JANUARY    27'1'H,    1 88 1. 

The  Secretary  addressed  the  several  members  of  the  committee,  as  well 
as  some  prominent  horticulturists,  and  requested  any  information  they 
might  possess  relative  to  the  newer  fruits  of  promise.  The  replies  which 
some  have  sent  indicate  that  although  a  large  number  of  new  fruits  are  at 
present  under  trial,  few  have  been  sufficiently  tested  to  justify  an  expression 
of  opinion  as  to  their  value.  The  memoranda  which  others  have  kindly 
furnished  appear  in  full  in  the  report.  For  the  purpose  of  giving  additional 
interest  to  the  report,  the  Secretary  has  taken  the  liberty  to  draw  attention 
to  some  of  the  older  fruits,  the  merits  of  which  seem  to  have  been  disre- 
garded or  overlooked. 

Apples. 

Although  a  considerable  number  of  new  apples  are  said  to  have  been 
introduced  to  notice  during  the  last  year,  few  have  come  under  the  obser- 
vation of  the  committee.  During  the  autumn,  Mr.  J.  F.  Tillinghast,  of 
Factoryville,  Pa.,  sent  us  specimens  of  the  Clarke  Apple,  a  variety  which 
originated  in  Lackawanna  county,  Pa.,  some  thirty-five  years  ago.  It  is 
supposed  to  be  a  chance  seedling,  and  in  the  locality  where  it  was  found  it 
is  highly  esteemed.  The  fruit  is  of  medium  size,  say  three  inches  in  diam- 
eter ;  form,  roundish  ovate,  contracted  at  the  eye  ;  stalk,  short  and  slender ; 
skin,  whitish-yellow,  sprinkled  with  dark  specks ;  flesh,  white,  fine  grained, 
tender,  juicy,  mild  sub-acid,  not  rich,  but  pleasant  to  the  taste.  The  tree 
is  said  to  be  of  branching,  drooping  habit,  and  an  early,  regular  and  abun- 
dant bearer.  It  is  evidently  a  fall  fruit,  but  Mr.  Tillinghast  says  it  will 
keep  till  spring.  On  account  of  its  good  quality,  we  deem  it  worthy  of  trial. 

Sutton  Beauty.  We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  O.  B.  Hadwen,  of  Worcester, 
Mass.,  for  the  following,  relative  to  this  variety:  "Its  origin  was  on  the 
farm  of  the  late  John  Waters,  of  Sutton.  Worcester  county,  Mass.  I  think 
it  was  first  shown  at  the  rooms  of  the  Worcester  Horticultural  Society, 
some  twenty-five  years  since,  by  Joel  Knapp,  but  the  annual  exhibitions 
being  in  September,  and  the  **  Sutton"  being  shown  in  an  unripe  condition, 
it  did  not  receive  the  notice  it  deserved.  A  few  trees  were  grown  by  the 
late  S.  H.  Colton  and  George  Jaqut  s.  I  have  two  trees  of  it,  some  twenty 
years  old,  that  bear  fine  crops  on  the  even  years,  and  I  have  a  growing  ap- 
preciation of  its  value.  First,  for  the  thrifty,  upright  habit  of  the  tree; 
second,  for  its  productiveness  of  apples  of  uniform  size,  of  roundish  conical 
form,  fair  specimens  measuring  9^  inches  each  way ;  third,  the  color  of  the 
fruit  is  very  marked  and  attractive,  being  a  light  crimson  red,  with  a  few 


36  NATIVE  FRUITS. 


dots  at  the  stem  end,  but  thickly  dotted  at  the  calyx  end  ;  the  stem  is  short, 
sermted  in  a  clear,  well  turned  cavity,  slightly  bronzed ;  the  calyx  is  par- 
tially open,  in  a  basin  of  medium  breadth  and  slightly  corrugated ;  the  flesh 
is  white,  with  a  slight  yellow  tinge,  crisp  and  tender,  sub-acid,  with  decided 
character.  It  is  an  apple  that  is  rapidly  growing  in  favor,  one  that  the 
customer  seeks  the  second  time  and  always  after  using  it  once.  I  think  as 
an  apple  for  export  it  will  take  the  front  rank,  as  it  looks  well,  tastes  well, 
and  keeps  well  up  to  May." 

We  have  fruited  the  Sutton  Beauty  two  or  three  times,  and  fully  concur 
in  all  that  Mr.  Had  wen  says  of  it.  As  a  late  keeper  it  will  undoubtedly 
prove  valuable,  as  it  retains  its  freshness  and  fairness  for  a  remarkably  long 
period.  Its  waxen  yellow  skin,  beautifully  shaded  with  light  crimson,  ren- 
ders it  showy  and  attractive,  and  in  spring,  when  there  is  a  scarcity  of  fruit, 
it  will  command  a  good  price. 

Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Arnold,  of  Paris,  Ont,  we  were  enabled  to 
test  his  seedling  apples,  Arnold's  Beauty  and  Ontario.  The  former  is  said 
to  be  a  seedling  of  the  Northern  Spy,  crossed  with  the  Wagener  and  Spitz- 
enberg.  It  is  a  handsome  fruit,  about  the  size  of  Wagener,  and  possesses 
some  of  the  striking  characteristics  of  that  variety,  but  I  do  not  think  it  is 
any  improvement  upon  it,  if  as  good.  It  may  have  merits  which  the  Wag- 
ener does  not  possess,  but,  so  far  as  I  can  see,  it  will  not  be  of  much  value 
here. 

Ontario,  said  to  be  a  seedling  of  the  Northern  Spy  crossed  with  Wag- 
ener, bears  a  striking  resemblance  to  the  Spy,  and  outwardly  would  easily 
be  taken  for  that  variety,  even  by  good  judges;  but  it  is  only  necessary  to 
put  the  knife  into  the  flesh  to  detect  the  difference.  The  flesh  is  not  nearly 
so  firm  and  delicate  as  that  of  the  Spy,  neither  has  it  the  exceedingly  agree- 
able flavor  for  which  that  variety  is  so  justly  prized.  For  shipment  and 
long  carriage  it  is  better  adapted  than  the  Spy,  on  account  of  the  flesh, 
which  is  firmer.  In  the  nursery  both  are  strong-growing  trees,  and  can  be 
propagated  profitably,  but  it  is  questionable  whether  they  have  sufficient 
merit  to  deserve  propagation,  at  least  here. 

In  the  rapid  introduction  of  new  fruits,  many  choice  old  sorts  are  very 
much  neglected.  The  Melon  Apple  is  an  instance  of  this.  A  rehearsal  of 
its  valuable  qualities  will  no  doubt  recall  to  the  minds  of  many  here  pleas- 
ant recollections  of  an  old  but  truly  noble  fruit,  one  which,  though  rarely 
seen  now-a.days,  is  not,  I  trust,  destined  to  be  forgotton  altogether.  It 
originated  in  the  orchard  of  our  much  esteemed  member,  Mr.  Chapin,  of 
East  Bloomfield,  and  for  some  time  its  cultivation  was  confined  to  the  or- 
chards in  that  vicinity.  Mr.  Reuben  Norton,  of  East  Bloomfield,  first 
brought  it  to  the  notice  of  Ellwanger  &  Barry,  and  recommended  it  by 
saying,  of  all  the  apples  lie  grew  (and  lie  had  a  very  fine  collection)  this 
was  always  the  first  to  be  consumed  by  his  family  and  friends.  The  atten- 
tion of  the  public  was  first  drawn  to  it  by  Ellwanger  &  Barry,  through  the 
Albany  Cultivator.  As  the  tree  is  rather  a  delicate  grower,  nurserymen 
cannot  propagate  it  advantageously,  and  on  this  account  the  stock  has  al- 
ways been  very  limited.  The  only  way  to  obtain  good  standard  trees  it  to 
top  graft  it  on  some  strong-growing  sorts,  which  of  course  renders  the  trees 
more  expensive ;  but  the  apple  is  so  valuable  that  no  one  should  object  to 
pay  an  extra  price  for  the  tree.  Lest  there  should  be  some  who  are  not 
acquainted  with  this  variety,  it  may  be  well  to  describe  it  briefly :  Size 


NATIVE  FRUITS.  37 


medium  to  large ;  form,  round,  slightly  flattened  at  the  ends ;  skin,  pale 
whitish-yellow  in  the  shade,  nearly  covered  with  light  red,  and  frequently 
striped  with  carmine  ;  flesh,  white,  exceedingly  tender,  juicy,  melting,  agree- 
ably perfumed,  and  having  a  mild  sub-acid  flavor.  As  a  desert  apple  it  has 
no  superior,  if  any  equal.  The  fruit,  however,  is  so  tender  that  it  will  not 
bear  much  handling  or  long  carriage,  and  the  tree  is  not  vigorous  enough 
to  render  it  a  profitable  variety  for  orchard  culture.  But  it  is  such  a  de- 
sirable fruit  for  family  use,  that  it  ought  to  be  included  in  every  garden 
collection. 

The  public  are  beginning  to  appreciate  .choice  fruits,  and  orchardists  will 
find  it  profitable  to  top  graft  this  kind  upon  a  vigorous-growing  variety.  I 
am  certain  it  will  sell  readily  at  a  good  price,  as  soon  as  its  merits  are 
known.  Is  it  not  surprising  that  a  fruit  possessing  so  many  good  qualities 
should  be  so  rarely  seen  ?  To  show  how  scarce  this  apple  is,  I  doubt  if  a 
barrel  of  them  could  be  found  in  Rochester  to-day.  Yet  it  is  unquestion- 
ably the  finest  of  all  winter  dessert  apples,  and  ought  to  be  found  in  the 
market. 

Another  apple  equally  valuable,  and  nearly  as  difficult  to  obtain,  is  the 
Jonathan.  It  is  one  of  those  slender-growing  sorts,  which  find  no  favor 
with  nurserymen.  But  it  seems  to  me  that  the  people  cannot  afford  to 
dispense  with  such  a  valuable  sort.  If  its  value  were  properly  estimated, 
nurserymen  I  am  sure  would  be  able  to  raise  trees  of  it  profitably.  Among 
the  numerous  sorts  on  exhibition  to-day,  I  ask  is  there  a  handsomer  or 
better  apple  than  the  Jonathan  ?  Of  medium  size,  roundish  ovate  form, 
skin  of  a  light  yellow  color,  nearly  covered  with  light  red,  deepening  to  a 
rich  crimson,  then  to  a  dark  purple;  flesh,  white,  tender,  juicy,  with  a  pleas- 
ant sub-acid  flavor,  it  has  all  the  qualities  which  constitute  a  perfect  dessert 
apple.  And  this,  one  of  our  best  winter  apples,  can  hardly  be  obtained  in 
the  market.  In  this,  one  of  the  greatest  fruit-producing  regions  of  the 
world,  there  is  no  excuse  for  depriving  the  public  of  the  best  apples  we 
have.  Grow  extensively,  if  you  will,  Baldwins  and  others  of  that  class  for 
exportation,  but  let  us  have  the  best  for  home  consumption.  It  will  not  be 
long  till  fruit  generally,  and  the  apple  especially,  will  be  classed  among  the 
most  important  articles  of  food.  For  those  who  are  engaged  in  sedentary 
pursuits,  or  who  suffer  from  indigestion,  apples  of  fine  quality,  like  those 
above  mentioned,  are  invaluable,  and  they  should  be  used  daily  in  every 
family,  and  at  every  meal,  in  some  form  or  another. 

\Ve  do  not  half  appreciate  the  advantages  we  possess  in  being  able  to 
enjoy  such  luscious  fruits  as  can  be  obtained  here  at  so  small  a  cost.  Last 
summer,  while  in  England,  I  paid  exorbitant  prices  for  grapes,  peaches  and 
strawberries.  Even  then  the  peaches,  having  been  grown  under  glass,  could 
not  compare  in  flavor  with  ours  produced  in  the  open  air.  And  the  hot- 
house grapes,  which  the  English  esteem  so  highly,  were  not  any  better,  if  as 
good,  as  our  best  native  grapes.  I  there  learned  to  appreciate  my  good 
fortune  in  being  a  resident  of  Western  New  York,  where  the  finest  fruit  can 
be  had  remarkably  cheap.  In  no  other  section  of  country  that  I  know  of 
can  such  fine  apples  be  raised  as  in  this  vicinity,  and  we  ought  certainly  to 
give  more  attention  to  the  choice  sorts,  especially  since  they  can  be  raised 
with  so  little  extra  trouble. 

I  might  refer  at  length  to  other  valuable  varieties,  which  deserve  more 
attention  than  they  receive,  but  the  limits  of  this  paper  will  not  admit 
of  it. 


38  NATIVE  FRUITS. 


Pears. 

Among  the  New  Pears  the  Hoosic  is  destined  to  hold  a  high  place  in 
public  estimation.  Its  size,  attractive  appearance,  fine  quality  and  pro- 
ductiveness, will  soon  render  it  popular  among  fruit  growers 

Frederick  Clapp,  another  fine  pear  of  recent  introduction,  combines 
valuable  qualities  which  will  make  it  a  general  favorite.  As  it  has  been 
pronounced  by  competent  judges  superior  to  Beurre  Superfine,  we  have  a 
right  to  expect  that  it  will  prove  to  be  one  of  our  best  native  pears. 

Plums. 

Mr.  S.  D.  Willard,  of  Geneva,  says :  "A  few  years  since  my  attention 
was  called  to  a  plum  being  grown  on  the  Hudson  River,  styled  the  Gweii, 
which  I  have  fruited  for  the  secon'd  season,  and  while  the  quality  can 
scarcely  be  regarded  as  equal  to  many  other  varieties,  the  beautiful  bloom 
which  appears  upon  the  fruit  as  it  matures,  coupled  with  its  great  produc- 
tiveness, and  hardy  and  fine  growing  qualities  of  the  tree  should,  I  think, 
make  it  a  very  desirable  market  sort  for  this  section.  The  fruit  sold  at 
good  prices  in  Philadelphia." 

Peaches. 

This  is  a  prolific  subject.  Several  favorable  peach  seasons  in  Western 
New  York  have  given  a  fresh  impetus  to  peach  culture.  While  the  yellows 
in  some  localities  is  destroying  many  fine  orchards,  a  large  number  still  re- 
main in  a  thrifty  condition  and  yield  large  crops,  to  the  great  satisfaction 
of  those  who  enjoy  this  luscious  fruit.  While  great  progress  has  been  made 
in  producing  early  sorts,  several  choice  old  kinds  are  very  much  neglected. 
Prominent  among  these  are  Brevoort,  Druid  Hill,  Malta  and  Poole's 
Large  Yellow.  Several  of  Mr.  Rivers'  productions  have  proved  to  be  very 
valuable,  but  they  hardly  come  within  the  province  of  this  report. 

Briggs'  Red  May  and  Harper's  Early,  two  of  the  very  early  sorts,  are 
growing  in  favor.  The  first  named  appears  to  be  less  disposed  to  decay 
than  the  other  early  sorts.  Harper's  Early  has  fine  flavor.  From  in- 
formation received  from  many  cultivators  of  the  peach  in  different  States, 
I  learn  that  a  large  number  of  the  new  sorts  which  gave  promise  of  remark- 
able earliness,  failed  during  the  past  year  to  fulfill  the  expectations  which 
were  raised  about  them.  A  great  many  of  them  opened  later  than  usual 
and  about  the  same  time  as  Alexander.  It  is  a  singular  circumstance,  and 
difficult  to  account  for.  It  will  require  Another  season's  trial  to  determine 
the  value  of  these  sorts.  An  objection  is  frequently  raised  to  the  very  early 
peaches,  as  they  decay  so  easily.  Those  who  are  cultivating  the  peach  on 
an  extensive  scale  are  experimenting  with  the  very  early  varieties,  in  the 
hope  of  finding  one  which  is  free  from  this  defect.  Unfortunately  the 
severity  of  this  winter  has  been  so  great  that  peach  trees  will  have  suffered 
more  or  less  in  every  section  of  the  country,  and  it  is  to  be  feared  that  this 
will  delay  many  important  experiments  which  cultivators  had  been  intend- 
ing to  make. 

Grapes. 

The  number  of  new  grapes  now  in  course  of  propagation  and  dissemin- 
ation is  very  great.  Several  of  the  hybrid  varieties  raised  by  Mr.  Ricketts 
are  being  tried  in  various  sections  of  the  country,  and  reports  as  to  their 


NATIVE  FRUITS.  39 


merits  are  beginning  to  appear.  The  Lady  Washington  seems  to  be  the 
most  promising  of  all  tested  thus  far.  It  is  remarkably  vigorous,  has  fine 
foliage,  and  the  quality  of  the  fruit  is  good.  The  Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder 
mentions  a  graft  which  made  seventy-five  feet  of  wood  last  year.  Mr.  Chas. 
A.  Green,  of  Clifton,  N.  Y.,  says :  "  It  succeeds  admirably  with  me  thus 
far.  Vine  vigorous  and  healthy  ;  fruit  exceedingly  handsome,  and  few  com- 
plaints will  be  made  of  its  quality.  The  pink  blush  over  the  clusters  is  an 
attractive  feature."  We  regret  to  have  to  say  that  Mr.  Rickett's  Secretary 
has  turned  out  to  be  a  great  failure.  The  fruit  is  small,  of  medium  quality, 
not  so  good  as  Clinton ;  the  vine  is  a  miserable  grower,  and  the  foliage 
poor.  In  this  connection  Mr.  E.  Williams,  of  Montclair,  N.  J.,  says:  "Of 
the  new  varieties  now  being  offered,  I  have  strong  hopes  that  the  Jefferson 
will  attain  a  prominent  position.  I  have  had  several  opportunities  of  test- 
ing Mr.  Rickett's  seedling  at  exhibitions,  for  two  years  past,  and  basing  my 
opinion  on  this  alone,  I  regard  the  Jefferson  as  the  best  in  quality  of  any 
he  has  yet  sent  out,  and  its  parentage  leads  me  to  hope  it  has  sufficient 
vigor  to  succeed  generally.  Of  Moore's  Early  Mr.  Williams  says :  "  It 
bids  fair  to  supercede  the  Concord  as  an  early  grape."  I  am  glad  to  hear 
so  good  an  account  of  it  from  New  Jersey.  I  hardly  think  it  will  displace 
the  Concord,  at  least  in  Western  New  York.  In  quality  it  is  little  if  and 
better  than  Concord,  and  the  bunch  and  berry  do  not  seem  to  be  very 
much  larger.  In  New  England,  where  great  importance  is  attached  to 
earliness,  it  has,  perhaps,  a  particular  value. 

The  Niagara,  Prentiss,  Duchess  and  Pocklington  are  all  promising 
White  Grapes,  and  as  they  are  being  grown  extensively  in  this  vicinity,  we 
shall  take  a  special  interest  in  them.  They  possess  important  qualifications 
which  have  long  beed  sought  in  white  grapes,  such  as  vigor,  hardiness  and 
productiveness.  With  five  fine  varieties  like  the  above  and  more  to  come 
soon,  grape  growers  will  surely  be  able  to  satisfy  a  long  felt  want. 

It  will  be  an  interesting  experiment  to  test  these  varieties  side  by  side,  in 
order  to  determine  which  is  the  best. 

The  Centennial  is  a  new  grape  raised  by  Mr.  D.  S.  Marvin,  Watertown, 
\.  Y.,  and  is  claimed  to  be  a  seedling  of  the  Eumelan  grafted  upon  an 
lona  root.  Mr.  Marvin  believes  that  grafting  is  an  important  factor  in 
improving  our  native  grapes.  The  plant  which  we  have  in  our  garden 
produced  a  small,  compact  cluster  of  white  berries,  slightly  flushed  with 
pink.  We  are  not  yet  prepared  to  pass  judgment  upon  this  variety  as  the 
plant  has  not  had  a  fair  chance  Being  a  product  of  the  Eumelan  and 
lona,  we  may  look  for  something  good  from  it,  and  we  shall  watch  it 
closely. 

The  Vergennes  Grape,  a  sample  of  which  was  exhibited  at  the  last 
Annual  Meeting  of  this  Society,  was  described  at  length  in  the  Rural  New 
Yorker  of  May  ist,  1880,  and  its  qualities  were  summed  up  by  Gen.  W.  II. 
Noble,  in  the  following  language : 

"  For  hardiness,  vigor  of  growth,  large  bounteous  fruitage,  a  luscious 
fruit  of  the  richest  of  tint  of  blended  pink  and  purple  bloom,  for  its  yield 
of  wine  with  the  most  delicate  aroma,  for  its  early  maturity  of  wood  and 
fruit,  for  its  long  keeping  quality,  lasting  in  excellence  beside  the  apple  on 
our  table.  I  think  this  the  equal  of  any  American  grape  yet  grown.  I 
say  this  with  great  tenderness  towards  all  its  native  rivals." 

The  "Amber  Queen  "  is  claimed  by  the  originator,  Mr.  N.  B.  White, 
Norwood,  Mass.,  to  be  the  richest  and  best  flavored  grape  that  has  ever 


40  NATIVE  FRUITS. 


been  produced.  It  is  described  as  a  strong  grower,  with  thick  leaves, 
bunch  large,  shouldered  like  the  Hamburg,  berry  large,  amber  colored  but 
growing  darker  as  it  becomes  riper.  Eatable  in  August  and  lasts  through 
September. 

Elvira  and  Uhland  White  Grapes,  raised  in  Missouri  and  recently  intro- 
duced, are  of  little  value  in  this  locality,  the  bunches  being  small  and  the 
berries  are  so  much  crowded  that  they  crack  badly. 

We  have  on  trial  twelve  of  Miner's  Seedlings,  all  of  which  are  white, 
and  we  hope  to  find  among  them  some  which  will  prove  worthy  of  cultiva- 
tion. The  Victoria  appears  quite  promising. 

While  a  great  deal  of  attention  has  been  given  to  the  newer  varieties, 
some  excellent  old  sorts  are  very  nearly  forgotten.  The  Lindley  for  exam- 
ple, where  it  does  well,  is  one  of  the  best  red  grapes  we  have.  The  Hon. 
M.  P.  Wilder  in  writing  to  the  Rural  New  Yerker,  says  :  "  From  the 
first  intoduction  of  Rogers'  grapes, -I  have  considered  it  one  of  the  most 
reliable  varieties.  Its  quality  is  but  little  below  that  of  the  Delaware  with 
me,  while  in  size,  beauty,  vigor  and  hardiness  it  is  superior.  As  a  proof  of 
its  excellence.  I  selected  samples  of  both,  taking  small  berries  of  the  Lind- 
ley so  as  to  have  them  in  appearance  as  much  alike  as  possible,  and  had 
them  tested  by  connoisseurs,  nine  out  of  eleven  persons  preferred  the 
Lindley." 

The  Gaertner,  another  of  Rogers'  Hybrids,  appeared  unusually  well  with 
us  the  last  summer.  The  bunch  and  berry  were  large  and  remarkably 
showy ;  color  at  first  amber  deepening  to  a  rich  purple  ;  quality,  though 
not  of  the  highest  character,  good  ;  vine  hardy  and  productive.  This  va- 
riety seems  to  be  but  little  known.  Should  it  continue  to  be  as  fine  at  it 
proved  last  season  it  will  be  worthy  of  a  good  deal  of  attention. 

The  Eumelan  is  one  of  the  best  flavored  grapes  that  we  are  acquainted 
with.  It  is  hardy  and  bears  well  every  year.  As  it  is  propagated  only  with 
considerable  difficulty,  nurserymen  do  not  regard  it  very  profitable  to  grow. 
It  should  be  grafted  upon  some  vigorous  sort. 

A  good  authority  says  with  reference  to  the  old  varieties  :  "  The  Dela- 
ware as  a  table  fruit  still  stands  at  the  head.  The  bunch  is  elegant  in  form, 
beautiful  in  color,  and  the  quality  is  unequalled." 

"The  lona,  when  in  y^erfection,  which  it  seldom  attains,  requiring  the  most 
favorable  conditions  of  soil,  exposure,  culture,  etc.,  is  on  account  of  its 
wonderful  excellence  worthy  of  every  care." 

"The  Catawba,  when  perfectly  ripened,  comes  close  up  to  the  lona  and 
is  really  good  enough,  but  it  needs  in  our  State  the  warmth  of  Pleasant 
Valley  with  good  seasons  and  good  culture." 

It  is  interesting  to  note  what  a  correspondent  of  the  Country  Gentleman 
recently  said  about  grapes.  Writing  from  Ohio,  he  says  :  "  I  have  spent  a 
thousand  dollars  in  planting,  tending  and  digging  up,  and  am  still  experi- 
menting. I  planted  an  acre  of  lonas,  dug  them  up  and  planted  Salems, 
and  now,  after  ten  years  labor  without  fruit  enough  to  pay  first  cost  of 
vines,  I  have  to  dig  them  up  and  put  out  Delawares  which  will  stand  thirty 
years  if  properly  cared  for  " 


NATIVE  FRUITS.  4l 


Raspberries. 

It  augurs  well  for  the  future  now  that  the  quality  of  fruit  forms  a  subject 
for  discussion  in  horticultural  journals.  We  usually  attach  too  much 
importance  to  appearance  and  productiveness,  and  have  too  little  regard 
for  flavor.  Take  for  example  the  newer  Raspberries,  and  we  may  well  ask 
ourselves  what  progress  they  indicate.  True,  we  have  made  gains  in  certain 
directions — in  hardiness  and  productiveness,  but  the  flavor  has  not  been 
improved,  on  the  contrary  it  has  deteriorated.  With  one  or  two  exceptions 
hardly  any  of  the  newer  raspberries  are  fit  for  garden  cultivation,  and  we 
have  to  rely  mainly  on  the  older  sorts  for  high  flavored  fruit.  It  is  question 
able  whether  this  is  the  right  kind  of  progress.  In  raising  new  fruits  now-a- 
da\s,  we  should  aim  at  producing  in  the  first  place,  fruit  of  good  quality, 
due  regard  being  had  for  the  necessary  vigor  and  bearing  properties  of  the 
plant.  But  in  Raspberries — I  refer  now  to  the  newer  sorts — we  have  a 
superabundance  of  vigor  and  little  flavor.  What  we  want  in  red  Rasp- 
berries is  a  fruit  with  flavor  equal  to  that  of  Brinckle's  Orange  but  sufficiently 
firm  to  carry  well,  and  the  plant  should  be  as  vigorous,  hardy  and  produc- 
tive as  Braydywine,  Thawck,  Delaware,  Philadelphia  and  others  of  that 
type  which  produce  dry,  insipid  fruit.  The  public  are  getting  tired  of  them. 
So  far  as  I  know,  the  nearest  approach  to  the  perfect  red  raspberry  is  the 
Clarke  or  the  Herstine,  although  these  are  said  to  fail  in  some  localities  or 
lack  firmness. 

Reliance,  though  not  so  good  as  either  in  quality,  possesses  greater 
firmness,  and  would  probably  be  more  valuable  for  market. 

I  have  not  seen  the  Cllthbert,  but  if  it  comes  up  to  the  descriptions 
which  are  given  of  it,  it  is  the  raspberry  that  has  been  anxiously  looked 
after  for  years. 

The  Turner  is  esteemed  by  many  on  account  of  the  sweetness  of  the 
fruit  and  the  great  hardiness  of  the  plant,  but  it  is  too  soft  to  bear  much 
carriage.  I  think  the  time  has  arrived  when  so  many  mere  apologies  for 
fruit  should  be  discarded  and  our  attention  turned  to  those  varieties  which 
deserve  it.  A  step  forward  has  been  made  in  yellow  Raspberries  in  the  in- 
troduction of  the  Caroline,  a  berry  of  fair  quality  and  the  plant  is  sufficiently 
vigorous  and  hardy  to  withstand  severe  weather. 

New  RochellP,  a  new  cap,  is  remarkably  productive,  but  the  fruit  has 
a  dirty  color  and  its  quality  is  indifferent. 

A  well  known  authority  says  "  The  Clarke  is  by  no  means  the  best  of 
red  raspberries.  The  Hudson  River  Antwerp,  Fastolff,  Franconia  and 
Knevett's  Giant  are  all  fine,  and  only  need  to  be  laid  down  in  winter. 
Brinckle's  Orange  is  not  very  tender.  It  never  suffers  if  laid  down,  and  it 
is  the  finest  of  all  the  raspberries." 

"  Caroline  is  a  Yellow  Cap,  less  seedy  and  better  flavored  than  the  class 
generally,  but  still  not  to  be  compared  with  Orange.  People  who  want  fine 
raspberries  must  stand  by  the  old  sorts  named  above.  The  seedy,  insipid 
caps  may  do  for  market  to  supply  those  who  cannot  afford  better." 

I  hope  this  question  of  quality  in  fruits  will  be  more  freely  discussed  in 
the  future  than  in  the  past.  An  exchange  of  opinion,  together  with  the 
discussions  which  must  result  therefrom,  will  have  a  tendency  to  bring 
the  choicer  fruits  more  prominently  before  the  public.  In  this  manner  a 
keener  appreciation  for  really  good  things  will  be  encouraged. 


42  NATIVE  FRUITS. 


Strawberries. 

So  many  new  varieties  are  now  on  trial  and  opinions  differ  so  much  as 
to  their  value  that  it  is  a  difficult  matter  to  select  those  which  merit  particu- 
lar notice. 

Crystal  City,  one  of  the  newest  sorts,  appears  to  meet  with  favor  every 
where  on  account  of  its  extreme  earliness  and  good  quality.  It  is  the  first 
to  ripen  with  us.  The  fruit,  however,  is  so  soft  as  to  render  it  unfit  for 
long  carriage.  The  plant  is  very  vigorous  and  productive,  and  requires  hill 
culture. 

Cinderella  is  growing  in  estimation  as  a  choice  garden  sort. 

Sharpless  has  succeeded  beyond  the  anticipations  of  the  most  sanguine- 
According  to  all  accounts  it  has  failed  in  but  a  few  localities. 

Glendale  will  perhaps  be  valuable  for  market  on  account  of  its  bright 
color,  lateness  and  productiveness,  but  the  flavor  is  not  of  such  a  character 
as  to  render  it  desirable  for  garden  cultivation.  I  saw  it  at  Cleveland  when 
it  was  first  exhibited  two  years  ago,  and  I  concluded  at  once  that  its  poor 
flavor  would  be  a  great  drawback  to  its  successful  introduction. 

Glossy  Cone,  one  of  the  more  recent  introductions  of  Mr.  Durand,  is  a 
handsome  fruit,  but  this  season  it  rotted  before  it  was  fully  ripe,  and  the 
flavor  was  indifferent.  The  plant  is  vigorous  and  productive.  I  notice 
that  this  variety  usually  is  highly  recommended. 

Crescent  Seedling  is  wonderfully  productive,  and  when  grown  in  hills  is 
a  success  on  nearly  all  soils. 

Miner's  Great  Prolific  produces  large,  handsome  fruit,  but  it  is  dry  and 
spongy.  Plant  very  vigorous  and  productive. 

Champion  and  Windsor  Chief  as  we  have  them  are  distinct.  The 
former  is  a  moderate,  low  grower  and  produces  medium  sized  fruit  which  is 
very  acid.  It  ripened  June  Qth.  The  latter  is  a  strong  grower  and  yields 
abundantly  large,  fine  flavored  berries.  Ripened  June  i6th.  We  received 
the  Windsor  Chief  from  Michigan  and  the  Champion  from  a  grower  in 
New  York  State. 

Panic,  raised  near  Waterloo,  is  a  good  shaped,  high  flavored  fruit,  nearly 
equal  to  Triomphe  de  Grande.  The  plant  is  more  vigorous  and  the  fruit 
more  perfect. 

M.  Roe,  in  response  to  an  inquiry  kindly  furnishes   the  following  notes  : 

"I  regard  the  Bid  well  as  the  most  promising  new  variety  of  Strawberries. 
It  was  originated  in  Michigan  by  a  Mr.  Bidwell  and  was  first  sent  out  Mr. 
T.  T.  Lyon.  The  plant  is  a  rapid  and  vigorous  grower,  forms  immense 
stools,  foliage  light  green,  and  there  was  not  a  sign  of  curl  leaf,  burning  or 
scalding  during  the  entire  season.  Very  productive.  Fruit  large,  conical, 
regular,  of  a  bright,  glossy  crimson  color,  with  a  glazed  neck.  Flesh  firm, 
pink,  rich,  meaty  and  of  the  genuine  strawberry  flavor.  Mr.  Downing  and 
many  others  who  saw  it,  thought  it  the  most  promising  of  the  new  berries. 
Season  early." 

Oliver  Goldsmith  is  a  variety  originated  by  Mr.  Wm.  Bennison,  Dela- 
ware, Ohio,  in  1874,  and  is  a  cross  between  Charles  Downing  and  the 
Monarch  of  the  West.  I  have  been  so  impressed  with  the  value  of  this 
variety  that  I  have  purchased  the  entire  stock.  The  plant  is  strong,  vigor- 
ous and  very  productive;  the  fruit  large  and  of  good  quality." 


NATIVE  FRUITS.  43 


Mr.  E.  Williams  of  New  Jersey  says  that  at  the  State  Horticultural 
Society's  Exhibition  in  Newark  last  June,  Mr.  E.  W.  Durand,  of  Irvington, 
rxhibited  samples  of  two  new  seedlings  which  he  has  named  Superb  and 
Jersey  Queen,  which  attracted  much  attention  from  professionals  and 
amateurs.  Mr  Williams  regards  the  Superb  as  much  the  best  in  quality  of 
any  berry  he  has  yet  shown. 

I  close  t'us  report  hoping  that  the  season  of  1881  may  be  a  favorable 
one  for  fruit,  so  that  a  fair  trial  may  be  given  the  many  interesting  novelties 
which  are  now  being  experimented  with. 

W.  C.   BARRY, 

Secretary  of  Native  Fruit  Committee. 


NOTES    ON    PEACHES. 

SEASON    OF    1880. 


[Published  in  The  Cultivator  and  Country  Gentleman,  January  0,  1881.] 

The  season  of  1880  was  remarkably  favorable  for  the  peach  crop  in  Wes- 
tern New  York.  An  experimental  orchard — embracing  114  varieties,  which 
we  set  out  three  years  ago — came  into  bearing  for  the  first  time  and  en- 
abled us  to  test  the  leading  standard  sorts,  besides  many  of  the  older 
kinds  which  are  little  known,  as  well  as  several  novelties.  I  give  the  re- 
sults of  our  observations,  naming  the  kinds  as  nearly  as  possible  in  the  order 
of  ripening. 

The  Early  Sorts. 

On  the  24th  of  July  we  gathered  fine  specimens  of  Briggs'  Red  May. 
This  variety  originated  in  California,  and  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  very 
early  sorts  brought  to  notice.  It  has  much  the  same  character  as  the  Alex- 
ander and  Amsden,  and  is  hardly  distinct  enough  to  be  grown  under  a  sep- 
arate name.  Mr.  Myers,  a  prominent  peach-grower  of  Bridgeville,  Delaware, 
says  it  is  less  liable  to  rot  than  either  Alexander  or  Amsden.  He  also  states 
that  a  well-known  pomologist  of  Georgia,  after  having  seen  Briggs'  Red 
May  two  years,  believes  it  superior  to  Alexander  or  Amsden  for  shipping. 

July  26. — We  have  before  us  splendid  specimens  of  Alexander  and 
Amsden.  The  difference  between  them  is  very  slight.  Alexander,  however, 
appears  to  average  larger,  and  is  less  disposed  to  decay  upon  the  tree. 

July  27. — To-day  we  received  a  fine  basket  of  Waterloo  peaches,  gathered 
from  the  original  tree.  These  are  fully  up  to  the  standard.  Next  year  we 
hope  to  have  fruit  from  our  own  trees,  when  the  opportunities  for  com- 
parison will  be  better. 

July  29. — This  morning  we  find  upon  our  table  a  remarkable  collection 
of  peaches.  Alexander,  Amsden,  High's  Early  Canada,  and  Harper's  Early 
are  ripe  and  beautiful.  All  these  varieties  bear  a  striking  resemblance  to 
each  other.  High's  Early  parts  more  freely  from  the  stone  than  the  others, 
and  Harper's  Early  seems  to  excel  in  flavor. 

August  2. — We  sold  Alexander  and  Amsden  to-day  at  the  rate  of  $3  per 
bushel.  The  specimens  were  superb,  many  measuring  eight  inches  in  cir- 
cumference, and  weighing  four  and  a  half  ounces. 

August  4. — Early  Beatrice  is  now  ripe,  but  after  enjoying  such  mag- 
nificent fruit  as  we  have  for  the  last  few  days,  this  small  peach  fails  to  give 
satisfaction,  and  is  of  little  value  here.  Mr.  Myers  writes  me  he  has  mar- 
keted thousands  of  bushels  of  this  peach,  and  he  finds  it  valuable ;  though 
small,  it  is  produced  very  abundantly ;  the  tree  is  hardy,  and  the  fruit  is  ex- 
empt from  rot. 


NOTE3  QN  PEACHES.  45 

August  7. — Early  Louise,  now  in  perfection,  seems  to  be  a  profitable 
market  variety.  Mr.  Myers  says  that  in  Delaware  the  tree  is  remarkably 
productive,  and  when  in  bloom  it  is  capable  of  withstanding,  without  injury, 
a  greater  degree  of  frost  than  any  other  peach. 

August  10. — That  delicious  peach,  the  Early  Rivers,  is  now  in  fine  con- 
dition, for  eating.  In  this  vicinity  it  is,  beyond  question,  the  best  variety 
we  have.  Mr.  Robert  Hogg,  in  his  Fruit  Manual,  says:  "This  pe?ch  was 
sent  to  me  by  Mr.  Rivers  on  the  2oth  of  July,  1867,  when  it  was  first  pro- 
duced, and  I  was  so  struck  with  its  superiority  over  all  other  early  peaches, 
and  its  perfectly  distinct  character,  that  I  considered  it  a  fitting  opportunity 
to  record  the  name  of  the  raiser  by  associating  it  with  a  fruit  which  cannot 
fail  to  become  a  universal  favorite.  In  France  it  succeeds  so  well,  that  Mr. 
F.  Jamin  says  it  is  the  finest  early  peach  in  France.  Its  only  fault  is  that  it 
splits  at  the  stone."  In  one  of  my  reports  on  peaches,  I  expressed  the 
opinion  that  Early  Rivers  would  not  be  of  much  value  for  market,  owing  to 
its  thin  skin  and  delicate  flesh,  but  Mr.  Myers,  who  for  ten  years  has  made 
a  specialty  of  peach-growing  for  market,  informs  me  that  Early  Rivers  is  the 
most  valuable  of  any  of  the  early  peaches  for  market.  It  is  a  great  satis- 
faction to  be  able  to  commend  so  choice  a  peach  for  both  purposes.  In 
many  instances  only  the  coarser  fruits  can  be  recommended  for  market. 

August  15. — Early  Leopold  is  too  small,  and  the  quality  too  poor,  to 
render  it  worthy  of  a  place  in  a  collection. 

August  1 8. — Rivers'  Early  York  is  the  earliest  freestone  we  have  fruited. 
Fruit  of  medium  size,  good  quality,  and  the  tree  yields  well.  Snow  is  a 
beautiful  white  peach,  especially  valuable  for  canning  and  preserving.  It 
deserves  more  extensive  culture. 

August  20. — Large  Early  Mignonne  is  of  medium  size,  fine  quality,  and 
a  freestone.  The  tree,  loaded  with  fruit,  presents  a  remarkably  fine  ap- 
pearance. 

August  22. — Hale's  Early  is  ripe. 

August  23. — Acton  Scott,  Early  Rose,  Early  Savoy,  and  Belle  Conquete 
are  good  peaches,  but  not  large  enough  to  be  grown,  profitably.  Belle  de 
Doue,  Belle  Beauce,  Grosse  Mignonne  and  Belle  de  la  Croix  have  the 
highest  flavor  and  can  be  recommended  to  all  who  are  seeking  after  de- 
licious fruits. 

August  25. —  Two  of  the  best  peaches  in  our  collection  are  now  ripe.  I 
refer  to  Haine's  Early  and  Large  Early  York — varieties  which  are  undoubt- 
edly identical.  I  have.no  hesitation  in  placing  them  at  the  head  of  the  list, 
cither  for  garden  or  orchard.  George  the  IV  is  another  high-flavored 
peach,  resembling  the  two  last  named  very  closely.  Cooledge's  Favorite  is 
one  of  the  most  valuable  vaneties.  The  fruit  is  not  large,  but  handsome 
and  of  good  quality,  and  the  tree  is  so  hardy  that  this  peach  will  always  be 
a  favorite  in  the  northern  sections  of  this  country,  where  many  kinds  fail, 
owing  to  the  rigorous  and  changeable  climate.  Mountain  Rose,  of  recent 
introduction,  promises  to  be  desirable  for  market.  It  is  not  so  richly 
flavored  as  the  above,  but  large  and  handsome. 

August  31. — Shanghai,  a  very  large  Chinese  clingstone  peach,  is  ripe,  and 
is  remarkable  for  its  fine  flavor  and  handsome  appearance.  The  tree  is  ex- 
ceedingly prolific,  and  the  fruit  is  so  showy  that  it  will  take  well  in  market. 
Most  of  the  specimens  measured  nine  and  one-half  inches  in  circumference, 
and  weighed  eight  ounces.  It  is  a  variety  which  merits  attention. 


46  NOTES  ON  PEACHES. 

The  September  Varieties. 

September  i. — Early  Alfred,  Crimson  Galande,  Dagmar  and  Pucelle  de 
Malines,  are  handsome  white-fleshed  peaches  of  medium  size  ;  but  ripening, 
as  they  do,  about  the  same  time  as  Crawford's  Early  and  Surpasse  Meloco- 
ton,  they  cannot  compete  with  them,  and  we  shall  drop  them  from  the  cata- 
logue. Crimson  Galande,  with  its  deep  purple  cheek,  is  very  handsome, 
and  a  tree  full  of  fruit  is  an  interesting  object  to  look  upon.  Crawford's 
Early,  on  account  of  its  size  and  attractive  appearance,  maintains  its  repu- 
tation as  one  of  the  best  peaches  for  market.  Foster  and  Surpasse  Aieloc- 
oton  are  rivals  which  are  steadily  growing  in  favor,  and  both  are  superior  to 
Crawford's  in  flavor,  and  they  average  equally  as  large,  if  not  larger.  We 
had  specimens  of  Surpasse  Melocoton  weighing  five  and  three-fourths 
ounces,  and  measuring  eijjht  and  five-eighths  inches  in  circumference; 
Foster  weighed  five  and  one-fourth  ounces,  and  measured  eight  and  five- 
eighths  inches  in  circumference ;  Crawford's  Early  weighed  five  ounces,  and 
measured  eight  and  one-fourth  inches  in  circumference.  Richmond,  Dr. 
Sylvester's  seedling,  does  not  prove  satisfactory.  Conkling  is  a  large,  fine 
yellow  peach.  Alexandra  Noblesse,  one  of  the  newer  sorts,  is  an  excellent 
large  peach,  raised  by  Mr.  Rivers  from  the  old  Noblesse.  Early  Silver,  from 
which  the  Early  Rivers  was  raised,  is  a  splendid  variety,  and  deserves  ex- 
tensive trial.  Magdala,  Morning  Glory  and  Atlanta  are  medium  sized, 
white-fleshed  peaches,  but  not  large  and  attractive  enough  for  market.  At- 
lanta deserves  attention  from  amateuis  for  its  delicate  flavor.  The  Wager 
peach,  with  yellow  flesh  parting  freely  from  the  stone,  is  said  to  be  valuable 
for  canning. 

September  5. — Morris  White  is  still  a  favorite  with  orchardists. 

September  10. — Jacques'  Rareripe,  resembling  Crawford's  Early,  may  be 
esteemed  in  some  sections  of  the  country,  but  it  lacks  flavor  here.  Mon- 
strous of  Douay,  Chevreuse  Hative,  and  Hicks'  Seedling  do  not  possess  suf- 
ficient merit  to  render  their  cultivation  advantageous.  Goshawk,  raised 
from  Cooledge's  Favorite,  adds  size  to  the  many  valuable  qualities  of  its 
parent.  It  is  certainly  very  promising. 

September  12. — Malta  is  a  desirable  peach  for  the  amateur's  garden.  The 
flesh  is  juicy  and  melting,  and  the  flavor  all  that  one  could  desire,  but  the 
tree  is  not  productive  enough  to  justify  us  in  commending  it  for  market. 

September  15. — Leopold  ist,  a  Belgian  variety,  and  Prince  of  Wales,  one 
of  Mr.  Rivers'  seedlings,  are  deficient  in  flavor,  and  we  intend  to  drop  them 
from  our  lists.  Cole's  Early  Red  will  be  treated  likewise.  Just  now  Brevoort 
is  the  best  pearh  we  have.  Its  flavor  it  delicious,  and  on  that  account  it  is 
certainly  entitled  to  a  place  in  every  garden.  The  tree  is  only  a  moderate 
bearer,  which  would  prevent  its  culture  for  market.  Oldmixon  Free  is  now 
in  first  rate  condition  for  eating,  and  deserves  to  be,  as  it  is,  classed  among 
the  most  valuable  peaches  for  garden  or  orchard.  In  addition  to  its 
many  other  good  qualities,  it  has  a  rich  flavor,  which  will  always  make  it 
desirable.  Stump  the  World,  although  a  popular  market  peach,  has  not 
flavor  enough  to  commend  it  to  the  attention  of  amateurs. 

September  20. — Susquehannah,  a  large  yellow  peach,  has  a  rich,  vinous 
flavor.  Hill's  Chili  has  been  highly  recommended,  but  I  do  not  see  why  it 
should  be.  The  fruit  is  not  large,  and  the  flavor  is  indifferent.  Late 
Morris  White  is  a  variety  of  Morris  White,  resembling  it  in  every  particular, 
but  ripening  ten  days  later.  The  Nectarine  peach  is,  by  all  odds,  the  best 


NOTE3  ON  PEACHES.  47 


of  its  season.      It   is  sajd  to  have  been  raised  from   a  stone   of  a  Dutch 
nectarine,  called  Grand  Noir,  and  has  a  peculiarly  delicious  flavor.     \\  hi 
Melocoton  is  a  large,  handsome  peach,  juicy,  melting,  and   of  good  quality. 
Carmine  has  no  flavor,    and    should    therefore    be  rejected.      Red 
Melocoton    and    Mammoth    Melocoton    are  fine,    yellow-fleshed   peac/ 
Raymacker's  resembles  Crawford's  Late,  and  does  not  seem  to  be  any  11 
provement  upon  it. 

^•Member  26.— Van  Buren's  Golden  Dwarf  is  a  large  yellow  peach,  re- 
sembling Crawford's  Late.     It  is  a  clingstone.     The  tree  is  of  dwarf  habit 
and  very  prolific.     Princess  of   Wales,   raised  by  Mr.  Rivers  from  seed  of 
Pavie  de  Pompone,  is  a  beautiful  cream-colored  peach,  melting  and  ot  good 
flavor  valuable  on   account  of  its  lateness.     Crawford's  Late  continues  to 
be  valued  as  a  late  peach.     Pool's  Large   Yellow,   ripe  at  same  time   is  a 
verv  larae  yellow  peach.     The  flesh   is  finer  than  that  of  Crawford  s  Late 
and  from  what  I  have  seen   of  this  variety,  I  think  it  deserves  a  good  deal 
of  attention.     It  seems  quite  an   improvement  on  Crawford's  Late, 
bearing  qualities  I  am  not  able  to  judge. 

September  27.— Lord  Palmerston,  another  of  Mr.  Rivers'  fine  seedlings, 
raised  from  the  Princess  of  Wales,  is  very  large,  skin  creamy  white,  with  a 
pink  cheek  ;  flesh  fine,  juicy  and  rich,  stained  with  red  at  the  stone.  It 
deserves  careful  trial,  as  it  promises  to  be  of  great  value  to  succeed  Craw- 
ford's Late.  Ward's  Late  Free  is  a  desirable  white-fleshed  variety, 
flavor  is  excellent.  Druid  Hill,  raised  in  Baltimore,  has  an  exceedingly 
pleasant  flavor.  I  should  not  hesitate  to  rank  it  among  the  best  of  peaches. 
It  has  an  additional  value  in  ripening  so  late,  and  it  surpasses  Ward's  Late 
Free  in  flavor.  Walburton  Admirable  is  large,  juicy  and  delicious:  a  first- 
class  peach  in  every  respect.  Heath  Free  is  a  choice  late  peach.  McClane's 
White  does  not  equal  it  in  flavor.  Carpenter's  White  is  very  good,  and 
merits  attention. 

October  2— Lady  Palmerston  will  be  valuable  further  south,  but  is  too. 
late  for  this   locality.      This   remark  applies  equally  well  to  Smock  Free, 
Salway,  Temple  White.  De  Grauw's  White,  Delaney   Heath  Cling,  Jersey, 
Comet  and  Jones'  Seedling.     Some  of  these  in  such  exceptional  seasons  as 
that  of  1880  ripen  here  pretty  well. 

A  few  trees  did  not  produce  fruit.  This  will  account  for  the  absence  of 
some  kinds  from  the  list. 

Several  varieties  of  the  very  early  peaches  show  a  disposition  to  decay, 
and  theii  value  is  greatly  lessened  by  this  defect.  Another  year's  trial  will 
establish  to  a  certainty  the  advantages  which  some  sorts  possess  over  others 
in  this  respect.  As  will  be  seen  from  these  notes,  several  old  peaches  which 
have  been  neglected  of  late  have  been  found  to  possess  qualities  which  well 
merit  attention.  We  expect  next  year  to  fruit  the  following :  Saunders. 
Wilder,  Musser,  Conkling,  Mrs.  Brett,  Bradley,  Honeywell,  Governor  Gar- 
land, etc.  Mr.  Myers  says  that  Saunders  is  not  quite  so  large  as  Alexander, 
but  has  fine  color  and  is  entirely  free  from  rot.  The  tree  is  very  produc- 
tive, and  ripens  its  fruit  a  few  days  after  Alexander.  Downing  ripens  with 
Alexander  and  Amsden,  and  is  of  medium  size,  and  free  from  rot.  Wilder, 
of  same  season  as  Alexander  and  Amsden,  decays  like  these  varieties. 

This  collection  of  peaches  has  been  the  most  interesting  that  I  have  had 
the  pleasure  of  examining.  I  hope  that  other  fruit  growers  will  favor  us  with 
the  results  of  their  experiments,  so  that  we  may  assist  each  other  in  deter- 
mining which  kinds  to  keep  and  which  to  reject. 


NOTES     ON     SOME    DESIRABLE 

FRUITS. 


[Published  in  the  Country  Gentleman.'] 

An     Invaluable    Apple    for    the    Table. 

Considering  the  large  number  of  apples  known  to  cultivators,  it  is  sur- 
prising how  few  answer  the  requirements  of  a  perfect  table  fruit.  In 
choosing  apples  for  eating,  it  is  customary  to  make  flavor  a  primary  consid- 
eration. This  I  think  is  an  error,  for  some  of  the  highest  flavored  apples 
have  such  hard  solid  flesh  that  they  burden  the  stomach,  and  are  difficult  to 
digest.  In  my  opinion  the  most  important  qualification  of  a  good  eating 
apple  is  a  tender,  delicate,  melting  flesh,  which  dissolves  quickly  and  digests 
easily.  Flavor  is  the  next  consideration. 

Apples  abounding  in  acidity  are  liable  to  derange  the  stomach,  and  a 
mild  sub-acid  flavor  is  undoubtedly  the  pleasantest  as  well  as  the  one  best 
calculated  to  promote  digestion.  I  am  reminded  of  this  fact  by  the  hand- 
some and  excellent  Fanieuse  or  Snow  apples  which  we  are  enjoying,  and 
which  I  am  glad  to  say  are  tolerably  abundant  in  the  market.  This 
variety,  more  than  any  other  that  I  know,  possesses  qualities  which  com- 
mend it,  not  only  to  all  w|po  enjoy  fine  fruit,  but  more  especially  to  persons 
who  suffer  from  indigestion.  It  is  a  beautiful  fruit,  of  medium  size  ;  the 
skin  is  of  a  purplish  crimson  color,  its  flesh  is  white  as  snow,  tender  and 
delicate,  and  the  flavor  very  pleasant,  with  just  enough  acidity  to  render  it 
exceedingly  refreshing.  Now  that  fruit  has  come  to  be  regarded  so  val- 
uable an  adjunct  to  other  food,  and  so  conducive  to  health,  there  are  many 
no  doubt  searching  after  the  choicest  kinds,  and  I  recommend  this  as  one 
of  the  finest  fruits  of  its  season. 

Criticism    of   the    Above. 

The  Fameuse  Apple.— In  your  number  for  Dec  2d,  W.  C.  Barry's  article 
upon  "  an  invaluable  apple  for  the  table,"  selects  the  Fameuse  as  the  one  variety  most 
nearly  combining  all  the  qualities  of  a  dessert  apple.  He  is  certainly  quite  right  as  to 
its  quality  when  it  is  grown  perfectly,  and  free  from  black  spots  or  cracking ;  but  unless 
he  succeeds  much  better  than  myself  and  many  others,  he  will  have  to  grow  at  least 
five  apples  to  get  one  fair  specimen.  For  this  reason,  perhaps,  his  article  may  mislead 
many  irt  selecting  this  variety  for  setting,  unless  he  can  give  a  remedy  for  this  defect 
in  the  fruit,  and  loss  in  growing  for  market.  I  would  suggest  the  Gravenstein  as  an 
apple  equally  as  good  in  quality,  growing  more  uniformly  fair,  and  much  more  profitable. 

South  Byron,  jV.  Y.  C.  E.  0. 

RESPONSE. 

The    Fameuse    Apple. 

EDS.  COUNTRY  GENTLEMAN — On  page  822  of  your  paper,  C.  E.  C.  crit- 
icises my  article  on  the  Fameuse  apple.  In  reply,  I  would  say  that  the 
object  of  my  remarks  was  to  draw  attention  to  the  valuable  qualities  of  the 


NOTES  ON  SOME  DESIRABLE  FRUITS.  4'.' 

apple  as  a  dessert  fruit.  I  had  no  intention  of  recommending  it  for  mar- 
ket, although  I  believe  that  when  it  is  properly  appreciated  it  will  command 
a  ready  sale  at  good  prices.  For  family  use  no  apple  of  its  season  equals 
it.  Those  who  know  its  value  will  readily  pay  an  extra  price  for  it.  It 
sometimes  cracks  and  spots,  but  this  undoubtedly  comes  either  from  allow- 
ing the  trees  to  overbear,  or  from  their  unthrifty  condition.  We  all  know 
that  judicious  thinning  and  good  culture  are  necessary  to  produce  fine  fruit. 
To  obtain  perfect  specimens  of  the  Fameuse,  it  is  highly  important  to  have 
the  tree  vigorous,  and  if  the  crop  is  too  large,  the  fruit  should  be  thinned 
out.  If  growers  find  that  this  sort  is  more  difficult  and  expensive  to  raise 
than  others,  then  a  higher  price  should  be  demanded  for  it.  No  better 
proof  of  its  widespread  popularity  could  be  offered  than  the  fact  that  in  the 
catalogue  of  the  American  Pomological  Society,  it  is  recommended  for 
nearly  every  State  in  the  Union. 

C.  E.  C.  suggests  the  Gravenstein  apple  as  equally  good  in  quality,  growing 
more  uniformly  fair,  and  much  more  profitable.  The  Gravenstein  is  an 
excellent  apple,  and  'probably  more  profitable  for  market  than  the  Fameuse, 
but  it  will  not  take  the  place  of  that  apple.  The  Gravenstein  ripens  in 
September  and  October,  when  there  is  an  abundance  of  choice  fall  fruit. 
The  Fameuse  is  in  perfection  from  November  till  the  middle  of  January, 
before  the  best  winter  apples  are  ready  to  eat.  The  Gravenstein  is  high 
flavored,  tender  and  juicy,  but  rather  acid,  and  is  liable  to  derange  the 
stomach  of  many  persons.  The  Fameuse,  on  the  contrary,  has  such  a 
mild,  sub-acid  flavor  that  it  never  disturbs  even  the  weakest  stomach.  This 
constitutes  its  chief  value. 

I  think  the  idea  which  I  wished  to  convey  could  not  be  made  clearer  than 
by  comparing  these  two  apples.  Now-a-days  a  great  deal  of  money  is  ex- 
pended on  medicines  for  the  cure  of  indigestion,  and  I  would  suggest  the 
daily  use  of  this  apple,  during  its  season,  as  one  of  the  best  remedies  for  this 
disorder,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  valuable  means  to  keep  the  digestive 
organs  in  a  healthy  condition.  I  am  so  convinced  of  the  superior  excellence 
of  the  fruit  that  I  have  no  hesitation  in  recommending  its  introduction  to 
every  garden,  no  matter  how  small.  In  time  the  public  will  understand  its 
real  value,  and  then  there  will  be  a  demand  for  it.  A  family  which  has 
once  enjoyed  the  fruit,  will  not  be  without  it. 


[Published  in  the  Country  Gentleman.] 

A,  Valuable   Chinese   Peach. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  peaches  produced  in  our  extensive  collection 
during  the  past  season  was  the  Shanghai.  This  variety,  although  known  to 
cultivators  for  a  long  time,  having  been  sent  to  this  country  from  China 
several  years  ago,  has  received  very  little  attention.  We  have  fruited  it 
once  or  twice  under  glass,  and  have  been  struck  with  its  distinct  and  attract- 
ive appearance,  but  it  has  never  shown  itself  to  such  good  advantage  as  it 
did  the  past  season  in  the  orchard.  The  young  tree  producing  the  fruit  was 
heavily  laden,  and  all  the  specimens  were  large  to  very  large,  many  measur- 
ing nine  and  one  half  inches  in  circumference  and  weighing  eight  ounces. 

In  form  it  is  roundish  oblong,  somewhat  irregular,  with  a  deep  suture  on 
one  side.  The  skin  is  of  a  pale  green  color,  occasionally  marked  with  red 
next  the  sun.  The  flesh  is  white,  red  at  the  stone,  to  which  it  clings ;  very 


•r>0  NOTES  ON  SOME  DESIRABLE  FRUITS. 

juicy,  melting,  and  of  excellent  quality.  The  tree  seems  to  be  hardy,  very 
productive,  and  the  fruit  ripens  about  the  middle  of  August.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  many  fine  varieties  now  under  cultivation,  we  invite  attention  to  this 
one,  believing  that  it  has  qualifications  which  render  it  worthy  of  the  atten- 
tion of  both  amateur  and  orchardist. 


[Published  in  the  Country  Gentleman.'] 

A  Splendid  Early  Pear. 

Petite  Marguerite  is  one  of  M.  Andre  Leroy's  seedlings,  and  was  held  in 
such  high  esteem  by  that  celebrated  French  pomologist  that  he  named  it 
after  the  youngest  of  his  grand-daughters.  In  the  year  1863  it  was  first 
offered  in  France,  and  in  this  country  it  has  been  on  trial  several  years,  but 
not  until  recently  have  its  merits  been  recognized,  and  its  propagation  and 
dissemination  seriously  undertaken.  This  shows  how  much  time  is  required 
to  determine  the  value  and  to  raise  a  stock  of  a  new  fruit.  M.  Leroy  was 
remarkably  fortunate  in  the  production  of  choice  pears,  but  many  of  his 
seedlings,  like  Eugene  Appert,  Henri  Desportes,  Madame  B.  Despcrtes, 
Mme.  Andre  Leroy,  and  Maurice  Despories,  are  such  indifferent  growers 
that  nurserymen  will  not  attempt  to  propagate  them,  and  these  sorts  must 
therefore  remain  comparatively  unknown,  at  least  until  a  higher  estimate  is 
placed  upon  quality,  and  cultivators  are  willing  to  pay  an  extra  price  for 
choice  kinds  that  are  difficult  to  raise  in  the  nursery.  These  varieties  will 
all  have  to  be  double  worked,  which  of  course  adds  to  the  cost  of  the  tree. 
Petite  Marguerite,  although  a  moderate  grower,  both  on  pear  and  quince, 
is  sufficiently  vigorous  to  satisfy  nurserymen,  and  I  hope  in  the  near  future 
to  see  this  valuable  pear  extensively  propagated  in  the  nurseries.  The  list 
of  choice  early  pears  is  not  so  large  but  a  few  more  good  sorts  may  be 
added,  and  I  am  certain  that  all  lovers  of  fine  fruits  will  welcome  the  new 
comer.  There  is  no  doubt  that  when  this  pear  becomes  known  it  will  be 
regarded  as  indispensable. 

It  is  of  medium  size,  just  large  enough  to  be  acceptable  as  a  dessert 
fruit ;  skin  green,  covered  with  grey  and  brown  dots,  and  sometimes 
bronzed  on  the  side  exposed  to  the  sun  ;  flesh  greenish  white,  fine,  melting, 
juicy,  acidulous,  with  a  pleasant  perfume.  Ripening,  as  it  does,  about  ten 
days  before  the  Bartlett,  it  possesses  a  particular  value  as  an  early  pear. 
As  a  fruit  of  the  very  first  quality,  it  can  be  highly  recommended  to  con- 
noisseurs for  the  table,  but  it  is  not  large  and  showy  enough  for  market. 
M.  Leroy,  in  his  "Dictionnaire  de  Pomologie,"  describes  it  as  the  best  pear 
ripening  in  August.  We  believe  this  statement  to  be  as  true  in  America  as 
it  is  in  France. 


WIER'S  CUT-LEAVED   MAPLE. 

(ACER  DASYCARPUM  VAR.   WlERII  LACINIATUM.) 


In  thr  American  Af/ricultn.rist.] 

To  acquire  a  really  valuable  new  tree  is  nowadays  of  such  rare  occurrence 
that,  when  a  novelty  like  Wier's  Maple  is  introduced,  there  is  cause  for 
congratulation  among  admirers  of  beautiful  trees.  As  this  tree  was 
brought  to  notice  in  1873,  giving  sufficient  time  to  prove  it  thoroughly,  we 
may  now  safely  venture  an  opinion  as  to  its  worth.  Like  its  parent,  the 
native  Silver  Maple,  it  has  a  vigorous  constitution,  and  makes  a  remark- 
ably rapid  and  luxuriant  growth ;  the  leading  shoots  push  directly  upwards, 
while  the  lateral  branches,  being  slender,  fall  in  graceful  curves  towards  the 
ground.  This  half  drooping  habit  is  an  interesting  feature  in  this  tree, 
while  its  deeply  and  variously  cut  leaves  constitute  one  of  its  greatest 
charms,  and  fully  justify  us  in  ranking  it  among  the  most  valuable  of  orna- 
mental trees.  This  variety,  as  well  as  the  typical  form,  possesses  a  great 
advantage  as  an  ornamental  tree  which  is  not  sufficiently  appreciated,  that 
is.  its  freedom  from  disease  and  the  attacks  of  insects.  Not  alone  in 
Spring,  but  all  through  the  Summer,  its  clean,  bright,  delicately  cut  foliage 
has  a  peculiar  freshness  which  delights  the  eye  ;  though  the  leaves  do  not 
assume  the  brilliant  colors  for  which  some  of  our  maples  are  so  justly  ad- 
mired, nevertheless  the  rich  golden  autumnal  tints  of  this  tree  make  it  a 
desirable  object  in  scenery.  The  extremely  rapid  and  spreading  growth 
of  Weir's  Maple  makes  vigorous  pruning  absolutely  neccessary,  and  a 
judicious  use  of  the  knife  gives  the  tree  a  pleasing  outline,  and  tends 
greatly  to  increase  its  beauty.  I  think  all  who  know  this  Maple  will  join  with 
me  in  commending  it,  on  account  of  its  graceful  habit,  as  a  fit  companion  for 
the  Cut-leaved  Birch.  It  is  especially  suited  for  planting  singly  in  conspic- 
uous places  on  the  lawn,  and  introduced  among  other  trees,  it  imparts  to  a 
group  an  effective  variety  and  expression. 


DOUBLE   WHITE-FLOWERED 
HORSE  CHESTNUT. 


[Published  in  the  American  Agriculturist,  February,  1880.] 

Although  the  Double-flowered  Horse  Chestnut  was  introduced  to  this 
country  in  1852,  this  superb  variety  has  not  acquired  that  popularity  which 
its  merits  warrant.  It  is  surprising  that  so  important  an  addition  to  our 
hardy  flowering  trees  should  not  have  met  with  greater  favor,  and  I  can 
only  account  for  this  lack  of  appreciation  by  the  fact  that  its  many  good 
qualities  have  not  been  understood.  It  was  figured  and  described  the  first 
time  in  America,  in  the  Genesee  Farmer  for  1852.  Since  that  time  it  has 
been  propagated  and  disseminated  in  but  limited  numbers,  and,  as  yet,  fine 
specimen  trees  are  seldom  seen.  The  first  imported  tree,  obtained  from  the 
late  Mr.  Rivers,  is  now  growing  on  the  grounds  of  Ellwanger  &  Barry,  at 
Rochester,  and  is  about  sixty  feet  high,  its  branches  covering  a  circle  twenty 
feet  in  diameter.  It  is  as  hardy  as  the  common  Horse  Chestnut,  of  vigor- 
ous, erect  growth,  regular,  pyramidal  outline,  with  rich,  dense  foliage  and 
splendid  inflorescence.  Few  trees  can  lay  claim  to  a  greater  combination  of 
attractive  features,  and  it  possesses  several  characteristics  which  render  it 
even  more  desirable  for  ornamental  planting  than  the  ordinary  form.  In  habit 
it  is  more  upright  and  formal,  its  height  being  about  three  times  its  breadth, 
and  a  fully  developed  specimen  is  a  perfect  pyramid  of  verdure.  Its  flowers 
are  perfectly  double,  and  in  spikes  larger  than  those  of  the  single  flowering 
kind,  resembling  gigantic  hyacinth  bouquets.  They  appear  in  remarkable 
profusion  at  the  season  of  bloom,  which  is  about  two  weeks  later  than  that 
of  the  common  kind.  On  the  lawn  this  tree  forms  a  conspicuous  and 
pleasing  object,  and  although  I  have  never  seen  it  used  as  a  street  tree,  I 
think  it  admirably  adapted  to  the  purpose.  It  produces  no  fruit,  a  charac- 
teristic which  many  will  regard  as  an  important  point  in  its  favor,  as  much 
litter  is  avoided.  A  proper  consideration  of  the  merits  of  this  fine  tree  will 
induce  amateurs  and  planters  to  employ  it  oftener  in  the  ornamentation  of 
public  and  private  grounds. 


SOME  OF  THE   BEST   HARDY 
ROSES, 

WITH  BRIEF  HINTS  AS  TO  CULTURE. 


[Published  in  the  Rural  New  Yorker,  January,  1881.'] 

I  know  of  no  hardy  plants  which  will  render  a  garden  more  interesting 
and  attractive  than  a  choice  collection  of  roses.  There  are  many  persons 
who  suppose  that  rose  culture  is  exceedingly  difficult,  and  who  for  this 
reason  are  unwilling  to  attempt  it.  This  is  an  error,  and  the  object  of  this 
article  is  to  demonstrate  how  easily  the  rose  may  be  grown,  as  well  as  to 
call  attention  to  some  of  those  varieties  which  are.  best  adapted  for  general 
cultivation. 

Location. 

One  of  the  principal  requisites  of  the  rose  is  a  genial  situation.  We 
should  select  the  best  spot  in  our  garden ;  a  place  which  is  protected  from 
bleak,  cutting  winds,  and  sheltered  from  the  full  force  of  a  mid-day  or  after- 
noon's sun.  Too  much  shade  must  be  avoided,  as  well  as  proximity  to 
hedges  or  overhanging  trees.  An  eastern  aspect,  'where  the  full  benefit  of 
the  morning  sun  may  be  obtained,  is  the  best.  A  hedge,  wall  or  fence  on 
the  north,  south  and  west  sides  will  afford  the  necessary  shade  and  shelter. 
Fences  and  walls,  usually  unsightly,  may  be  rendered  very  ornamental  by 
covering  them  with  climbing  vines  and  running  roses.  S.  Reynolds  Hole, 
the  well-known  rosarian,  says:  "The  rose  garden  must  be  both  exposed 
and  sheltered,  a  place  both  of  sunshine  and  of  shade.  The  center  must  be 
clear  and  open,  around  it  the  protecting  screen.  It  must  be  a  fold  wherein 
the  sun  shines  warmly  on  the  sheep  and  the  wind  is  tempered  to  the  shorn 
lamb — a  haven  in  which  the  soft  breeze  flutters  the  sail,  but  over  which  the 
tempest  roars,  and  against  whose  piers  the  billow  hurls  itself  in  vain." 

To  secure  the  best  results  our  roses  should  be  kept  together  and  planted 
in  rows  in  a  prepared  border,  or  in  beds;  when  scattered  about  the  garden 
it  is  difficult  to  give  them  the  care  which  they  require.  If  we  are  content 
with  moderate  results,  we  can  plant  them  here  and  there  in  the  garden, 
where  they  will  produce  a  fine  effect;  but  we  must  not  expect  such  fine 
blooms  as  can  be  obtained  from  those  plants  which  have  the  benefit  of  rich 
soil  and  shelter. 

Soil. 

It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  the  soil  should  be  well  drained.  The  rose 
is  a  great  feeder  and  luxuriates  in  a  rich,  stiff  loam,  such  as  is  found  in  a 
well  cultivated  garden.  If  the  soil  is  sandy  and  light,  it  should  be  made 
heavier  by  the  addition  of  cow  manure,  clay  or  loam.  If  too  heavy  and 
stiff,  lime,  leaf  mould  and  stable  manure  should  be  applied. 


54  SOME  OF  THE  BEST  HARDY  ROSES, 

Manures. 

No  plant  that  I  am  acquainted  with  shows  so  quickly  the  advantage  of  a 
well  prepared  soil  as  the  rose.  In  rich  ground  it  makes  a  luxuriant  growth 
and  yields  flowers  in  the  greatest  profusion.  In  poor  soil  it  makes  no  growth 
and  quickly  becomes  the  victim  of  disease  and  suffers  from  the  attacks  of 
various  insects,  so  that  it  becomes  necessary,  if  you  wish  success  with  your 
roses,  to  plant  them  in  good  ground,  properly  emiched  in  advance  with 
well  decomposed  manure.  Fresh  manure  incorporated  with  the  soil  just 
before  planting,  is  apt  to  injure  the  roots  of  the  plants,  and  unless  suitable 
manure  can  be  obtained  it  is  better  not  to  use  any  until  after  the  plants 
have  started ;  then  the  manure  can  be  applied  on  the  surface  of  the  ground 
as  a  top-dressing  and  be  left  as  a  fertilizer  through  the  summer.  It  will 
keep  the  soil  cool  during  the  hot,  dry  weather,  and  will  prevent  the  plants 
from  suffering  from  drought.  Then  in  the  fall,  say  in  November,  give  each 
plant  a  liberal  supply  of  the  best  cow  manure,  leaving  it  around  the  plants 
during  the  winter  and  turning  it  under  in  April.  Of  all  the  manures  which 
I  have  experimented  with  cow  manure  shows  the  best  effects — spent  hop>s 
mixed  with  cow  manure  add  value  to  the  dressing.  This  mode  of  manuring 
should  be  practiced  every  autumn.  Liquid  manure  is  very  beneficial  and 
can  be  applied  occasionally  during  the  summer,  but  care  must  be  taken  that 
it  be  not  too  strong ;  make  it  weak  and  apply  it  frequently. 

Pruning. 

This  is  an  operation  of  great  importance.  We  find  the  early  spring,  be- 
fore the  plants  have  commenced  to  grow,  the  best  time  to  prune.  Some 
varieties  require  to  be  cut  back  more  than  others ;  but  a  rule  which  will 
apply  generally  is  to  shorten  the  strongest  stems  of  last  season's  growth  to 
about  1 8  or  24  inches,  and  cut  out  all  weakly  growth.  We  take  it  for 
granted  that  the  bushes  make  a  growth  of  from  five  to  seven  feet  during  the 
season.  In  my  garden  several  varieties  make  an  annual  growth  of  eight  to 
nine  feet,  that  is,  when  not  summer-pruned.  A  great  many  are  afraid  to 
use  the  knife  vigorously,  and  their  plants  suffer  materially  on  that  account. 
In  order  to  obtain  flowers  in  autumn  the  plants  m?y  be  slightly  pruned  in 
July,  after  the  flowering  season  is  over.  The  plants  will  then  produce  a 
quantity  of  blooms  again  in  September,  and  the  shape  of  the  bushes  will 
be  improved. 

Planting. 

The  spring  is  the  best  season  for  planting,  although  where  the  winters 
are  not  severe  it  can  be  done  in  autumn.  It  is  highly  important  to  plant 
early,  as  roses  suffer  extremely  if  set  out  after  the  growth  has  started.  April 
is  the  best  time  in  this  locality.  Secure  your  plants  early,  and  if  they  are 
budded  on  the  manetti,  plant  them  so  that  not  only  the  stock,  but  also  a 
portion  of  the  bud  will  be  covered  with  earth.  This  will  enable  the  plant 
to  send  out  roots  above  the  bud,  and  in  a  short  time  the  bush  will  be  on  its 
own  roots.  This  point  is  worthy  of  serious  consideration,  If  you  do  not 
set  out  the  plants  yourself,  see  that  your  gardener  observes  this  suggestion. 
I  prefer  budded  plants,  except  for  beds,  to  any  others,  as  you  obtain  a 
stronger  growth  and  larger  and  finer  flowers  than  you  do  from  plants  on 
their  own  roots.  Some  object  to  budded  plants  on  account  of  the  suckers 
they  send  up.  These  suckers  will  not  appear  if  the  planting  is  properly 
done,  and  any  one  who  loves  roses  will  soon  learn  to  distinguish  the  stock 
from  the  plant,  and  as  soon  as  a  sucker  appears  it  can  be  cut  out. 


WITH  BRIEF  HINTS  AS  TO  CULTURE.  55 

Protection  in  Winter. 

To  protect  against  injury  from  severe  weather  in  winter,  I  would  recom- 
mend laying  down  the  shoots  in  the  autumn,  the  same  as  is  done  with 
raspberry  canes.  In  bending  the  stems  be  careful  not  to  break  them,  and 
cover  with  a  few  inches  of  earth,  leaves,  01  branches  of  evergreens.  Some- 
times the  shoots  make  such  a  strong  growth  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to 
bend  them  without  breaking.  In  this  case  it  is  better  to  tie  them  to  stakes 
and  cover  them  with  straw.  A  little  practice  and  experience,  however,  will 
enable  any  one  to  lay  down  roses  without  injuring  them. 

Care  and  Management  During  the  Growing  Season. 

Having  procured  strong,  thrifty  plants,  and  having  set  them  out  properly 
in  well  prepared  soil,  and  in  a  good  situation,  your  roses  ought  to  make  a 
good  growth,  If  dry  weather  should  prevail,  liquid  manure,  well  diluted, 
will  be  very  beneficial  One  of  the  greatest  secrets  of  success  in  rose  cul- 
ture is  to  keep  the  plants  in  a  thrifty  condition.  As  long  as  the  plants  are 
in  robust  health  they  easily  resist  the  attacks  of  insects,  and  with  a  little 
assistance  from  us  they  gain  the  battle  every  time. 

We  hear  it  said  frequently,  "  If  I  could  only  keep  off  the  insects,  my 
roses  would  thrive.''  At  the  outset  1  am  going  to  be  plain,  and  tell  you 
that  insects  are  numerous ;  that  they  are  great  foes,  and  can  be  conquered 
only  by  great  industry  and  perseverance.  Now,  if  we  esteem  our  roses  as 
we  ought  to,  we  will  be  willing  to  devote  some  time  to  them  every  day.  To 
the  ardent  lover  of  the  Queen  of  Flowers,  nothing  is  pleasanter  than  each 
morning  to  make  a  tour  of  the  rose  garden,  while  the  plants  are  yet  spark- 
ling with  myriads  of  dew  drops.  How  can  we  pass  an  hour  more  pleasantly 
than  in  examining  the  variety  of  growth  which  the  different  kinds  exhibit, 
in  comparing  the  peculiarities  of  habit,  in  noting  the  marked  vigor  of  some 
sorts,  the  thorny  shoots  of  others  and  the  beautiful  foliage  with  which  some 
varieties  are  clothed  ?  And,  while  engaged  in  this  examination,  let  us  keep 
on  the  lookout  for  the  rose  caterpillar,  which  in  May  makes  its  appearance, 
rolling  itself  up  in  the  leaves.  Its  presence  is  easily  detected,  and  we  must 
at  once  make  up  our  minds  to  put  an  end  to  its  career,  by  crushing  it  be- 
tween our  thumb  and  fingers.  Go  over  every  plant,  every  day,  and  rid  them 
of  this  pest.  The  rose  slug  appears  in  July  and  August,  and  eats  the  leaves. 
It  can  be  disposed  of  by  hand-picking  and  by  syringing  the  plants  with  a 
weak  solution  of  whale-oil  soap.  White  hellebore,  sprinkled  over  the  plants 
while  the  dew  is  upon  them,  will  keep  off  other  insects. 

Roses  in  Bush    Form. 

The  bush  form  is  the  one  usually  adopted,  and  is  perhaps,  on  the  whole, 
the  most  satisfactory.  Roses  grown  in  this  way  produce  the  finest  blooms 
and  furnish  flowers  a  longer  time  than  when  pegged  down. 

Roses  Pegged  Down. 

This  is  a  method  of  bending  the  shoots  so  as  to  make  the  plants  low  and 
dwarf.  It  is  practiced  to  great  advantage  when  making  beds  of  roses  upon 
the  lawn.  Plants  intended  for  growing  in  this  way  should  be  allowed  to 
make  their  first  season's  growth  in  the  usual  way.  Early  the  following 
spring  shorten  the  longest  and  strongest  shoots  a  little,  and  cut  away  the 
weak  stems.  Then,  before  the  buds  start,  bend  the  shoots  toward  the 


56  SOME  OF  THE  BEST  HARDY  ROSES, 

ground  and  fasten  them  to  it  by  wooden  pegs  or  hooks,  such  as  you  can 
obtain  at  any  pile  of  brush.  It  is  surprising  what  a  quantity  of  blooms  will 
appear  on  each  shoot,  making  a  superb  display;  but  there  is  this  disadvan- 
tage, that  all  the  flowers  appear  nearly  at  one  time,  and  there  is  not  that 
succession  of  blooms  that  there  is  on  the  bush  plant.  Pegging  down  must 
be  attended  to  every  spring,  preserving  and  bending  down  the  best  wood, 
and  cutting  out  weak  growth.  For  beds  or  the  outer  edges  of  borders, 
where  tall  growth  Vould  be  objectionable,  this  method  can  be  practised. 

VARIETIES. 

I  shall  recommend  only  those  which  can  be  grown  to  the  best  advantage 
by  the  amateur  cultivator. 

Alfred  Golomb  I  name  first,  because  I  regard  it  as  the  peer  of  any  rose. 
It  has  a  vigorous  habit,  fine  foliage,  and  it  produces  carmine-crimson  flowers 
of  beautiful  form  and  delightful  fragrance.  That  famous  raiser  of  roses, 
Lacharme,  at  Lyons,  who  rarely,  if  ever,  fails  to  give  us  a  good  rose,  origin- 
ated this  one. 

Anne  de  Diesbach  is  one  of  the  older  roses,  which  the  newer  sorts  have 
not  yet  displaced.  It  lacks  fullness  of  flower,  but  its  brilliant,  carmine  shade 
is.unequaled  and  renders  it  one  of  the  most  effective  roses. 

La  France,  now  classed  among  the  Hybrid  Teas,  is  a  rose  the  beauties 
of  which  it  is  difficult  to  portray.  Possessing  in  an  eminent  degree  the  de- 
licious fragrance  and  perpetual-blooming  qualities  of  the  Tea  Rose,  it  has 
also  sufficient  hardiness  to  endure  severe  cold,  when  it  receives  a  little  extra 
care.  It  generally  produces  its  choice  blooms  so  abundantly  and  continu- 
ously that  great  injury  is  done  to  the  plant  unless  some  of  its  buds  are 
removed.  It  is  a  most  valuable  variety,  and  should  be  included  in  every 
collection. 

John  Hopper,  one  of  the  old  favorites,  has  hardly  an  equal  as  a  rose  for 
general  cultivation.  It  is  a  model  of  healthy  habit  and  robust  constitution ; 
its  flowers  are  large,  full,  of  a  bright  rose-color  with  carmine  center.  Among 
many  varieties  in  my  garden,  it  has  given  the  best  results  with  the  least  care. 

General  Jacqueminot  is  another  old  and  well  known  sort.  It  is  hardy 
and  vigorous,  and  its  blooms,  though  not  so  well  formed  as  might  be  desired, 
are  of  a  brilliant  crimson  color,  which  always  attracts  and  pleases. 

Madam  Victor  Verdier  is  a  most  beautiful,  finely  formed,  very  fragrant, 
free-blooming  rose,  of  a  carmine-crimson  color. 

Comtesse  Ce  ;ile  de  Chabrilliant,  though  not  large,  is  the  admiration  of 
all  connoisseurs  for  its  symmetrical  blooms  of  a  delicate  pink  shade. 

Marie  Baumann;  on  account  of  its  unequaled  beauty,  ought  to  have  been 
placed  first  on  the  list.  It  resembles  Alfred  Colomb,  and  is  finer,  but  it  is 
probably  not  quite  so  valuable,  being  less  vigorous.  Perfect  blooms  such 
as  it  usually  yields,  possess  the  highest  qualities  which  could  be  sought  after 
in  a  rose,  and  in  competition  with  other  sorts  of  its  class  almost  invariably 
take  the  prize. 

Ghas.  Lefebvre  is  rapidly  becoming  one  of  the  greatest  favorites,  Its 
large,  well-formed,  reddish-crimson  flowers  never  fail  to  excite  admiration, 
while  its  good  habit  and  fine  foliage  commend  it  to  those  who  appreciate 
desirable  qualities. 


WITH  BRIEF  HINTS  AS  TO  CULTURE.  57 

Coquette  des  Blanches  and  Madame  Alfred  de  Rougemont  are  valuable 
free-blooming,  white  roses,  and  yield  an  abundance  of  flowers  during  the 
summer.  There  are  many  other  white  roses  propagated  which  produce  ex- 
quisite flowers,  but  which  are  of  no  value,  as  they  make  such  a  poor  growth. 

Louis  Van  Houtte  is  a  variety  which  I  esteem  next  to  La  France.  Its 
elegant  form,  rich,  velvety  maroon  color,  and  fragrance,  form  a  combination 
of  desirable  characteristics  rarely  found  in  a  single  rose.  I  do  not  hesitate 
to  call  it  the  best  dark  rose  we  have. 

Paul  Neyron  is  a  real  curiosity  among  roses  on  account  of  its  immense 
size.  Although  very  large,  its  blooms  are  not  coarse,  but  handsome  and 
showy ;  the  plant  has  ample  foliage,  is  a  free  grower  and  very  vigorous ; 
color  deep  rose. 

Baronne  Prevost,  one  of  the  oldest  sorts,  is  still  much  admired.  Its 
flowers  are  of  a  pure  rose-color,  and  its  habit  is  all  that  could  be  desired. 

La  Reine,  surpassed  by  many  others  in  beauty  of  flower,  is  valued  chiefly  for 
its  hardiness.  The  flowers  are  large,  moderately  full  and  of  a  glossy  rose-color. 

Victor  Verdier  is  a  choice  sort  resembling  John  Hopper,  but  devoid  of 
fragrance.  Its  habit  is  good. 

Maurice  Bemardin  is  a  fine,  free-flowering  variety,  producing  vermilion- 
colored  flowers. 

Caroline  de  Sansal  bears  pale,  flesh-colored  flowers.  It  is  one  of  the 
best  of  the  light  roses. 

Madame  Boll,  an  American  rose,  is  much  prized  for  its  large  carmine- 
rose  blooms,  and  its  rich,  glossy  foliage. 

Prince  Camille  de  Rohan  and  Baron  de  Bonstetten  are  the  two  sorts 
upon  which  we  have  to  depend  mainly  for  our  very  dark  flowers. 

Francois  Miche]on  is  a  superb  variety,  of  a  deep  carmine-rose  color.  It 
yields  an  abundance  of  flowers  in  summer,  when  other  varieties  are  out  of 
bloom. 

Marguerite  de  St.  Amande  distinguishes  herself  as  an  autumnal  bloomer, 
producing  a  profusion  of  rose-colored  flowers  in  autumn. 

Marquise  de  Castellane  verifies  the  adage  "  no  roses  without  thorns." 
Its  shoots  are  remarkably  thorny ;  its  flowers  are  noted  for  their  bright  car- 
mine-rose color. 

Baroness  Rothschild  is  a  charming  sort ;  flowers  large,  of  fine  globular 
form,  and  of  a  pale  flesh  color. 

Mad'lle  Eugenie  Verdier  is  a  beautiful  and  graceful  rose,  with  large, 
finely  formed  blooms  of  a  silvery-rose  color. 

Mad'lle  Marie  Rady  bears  superb,  bright-red,  fragrant  roses. 

Countess  of  Oxford  produces  very  showy  carmine-colored  flowers,  and  is 
a  most  valuable  and  effective  variety. 

General  Washington,  one  cf  the  older  kinds,  still  merits  a  place  in  col- 
lections. It  bears  an  abundance  of  bright  red  blooms  shaded  with  crimson. 

Among  climbing  roses.  Baltimore  Belle,  bearing  white  flowers,  and 
Queen  of  the  Prairies,  producing  red  blooms,  are  still  favorites.  The  new 
hybrid  climbing  rose,  Jules  Margottin,  bids  fair  to  become  valuable. 

Among  the  summer  roses  which  bloom  but  once,  yet  seem  indispensable, 
are  Madame  Hardy  and  Madame  Plantier,  with  pure  white,  well-formed 
flowers,  and  the  Persian  Yellow,  bearing  beautiful  bright  yellow  blooms. 


SOME  OF  THE  BEST  HARDY  ROSES. 


Prominent  among  the  Mosses  are  the  Common,  Glory  of  Mosses,  Crested 
and  Salet. 

All  the  roses  in  the  above  selection  are  valuable  and  desirable.  Any  one 
who  is  willing  to  observe  the  cultural  directions  given  above  can  succeed  in 
growing  superb  roses.  For  further  information  on  this  subject,  S.  Reynold 
Hole's  "  Book  About  Roses,"  and  Mr.  Hibberd's  "  Amateur  Rose  Book,' 
are  strongly  recommended. 


AMERICAN    GRAPES. 


[rnbli.<l,rfl  iii  tlif  (jit r<le tiers'  Chronicle,  London,  Enyliiml.  Xmnnbei-  ti,  1880.] 

When  in  England  I  noticed  particularly  the  scarcity  and  high  price  of 
good  fruit.  Grapes  at  $s,  and  4*.  ;jer  pound  are  too  expensive  a  luxury  to 
be  indulged  in  by  the  masses,  and  the  question  frequently  suggested  itself 
whether  it  might  not  be  possible  to  produce  cheaper  fruit  by  cultivating  the 
American  Grape.  I  understand  that  the  chief  obstacles  to  open-air  grape 
culture  are  late  spring  and  early  autumn  frosts,  as  well  as  moist,  dull,  cloudy 
weather.  But  are  there  not  localities,  at  least  in  the  southern  parts  of 
England,  where  these  frosts  do  not  prevail,  and  where  there  is  a  sufficient 
amount  of  solar  heat  to  mature  the  grape  ?  It  is  well  known  that  night 
frosts  are  far  more  destructive  in  valleys  than  on  elevations.  Vegetation, 
too,  on  low  ground  is  far  more  liable  to  injury  from  frost,  because  the 
growth  is  more  luxuriant  and  less  matured.  In  our  severe  climate  we  see 
this  verified  every  year,  and  when  in  France  a  short  time  ago,  I  saw  on  low 
ground  relics  of  what  were  once  magnificent  specimens  of  Sequoia  gigantea, 
but  which  had  been  utterly  ruined  by  the  severity  of  the  past  winter,  while 
on  high  ground  but  a  short  distance  away  this  tiee  was  uninjured. 

Again,  in  low  places  the  mild  weather  which  often  occurs  in  winter  forces 
the  buds  prematurely,  and  succeeding  cold  weather  does  great  injury.  We 
think  here,  that  hillsides  sloping  to  the  east  and  south,  where  the  full  benefit 
of  the  sun  may  be  obtained,  and  where  protection  from  high  winds  is  se- 
cured, are  sites  peculiarly  suited  to  the  growth  of  the  vine.  I  call  attention 
briefly  to  these  points,  not  so  much  for  the  purpose  of  giving  information, 
as  to  remind  experimenters  that  elevation  and  aspect  have  a  great  deal  to 
do  with  successful  cultivation.  I  find  another  impediment  to  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  American  Grape  is  the  quality  of  the  fruit.  I  learned  that 
American  Grapes  were  considered  too  pulpy  and  foxy  to  merit  attention. 
Varieties  like  Isabella,  Concord  and  Hartford  Prolific,  which  rank  second 
in  quality  even  in  America,  seem  to  have  been  tested  to  some  extent,  and, 
proving  unsatisfactory,  the  conclusion  seems  to  have  been  reached  that  all 
American  Grapes  deserve  similar  condemnation.  I  regret  that  an  opinion 
like  this  should  prevail,  for  during  the  last  few  years  several  American 
Grapes  of  fine  quality  have  been  introduced,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  if 
these  were  tried  in  the  open  air  under  favorable  circumstances,  they  would 
certainly  prove  desirable,  if  not  profitable. 

Our  grapes  may  not  be  so  melting  and  high  flavored  as  well- grown,  thor- 
oughly ripened  Hamburghs,  Front  ignans,  Muscats,  etc.,  nevertheles  I 
have  seen  in  the  London  market  hot-house  grapes  which  certainly  were 
inferior  in  quality  to  American  Grapes.  In  August  I  found  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  grapes  in  the  market  only  half  colored  and  imperfectly  rip- 
ened, and  frequently  I  visited  several  stands  before  obtaining  such  grapes 
as  I  desired.  I  am  aware  that  this  is  the  result  of  over-cropping ;  but  I 
mention  the  fact  to  show  that  European  grapes  are  not  always  perfect,  at 


60  AMERICAN   GRAPES, 

least  such  as  are  sent  to  market.  In  Paris  I  had  a  similar  experience,  and 
I  naturally  came  to  the  conclusion  that  if  this  quality  of  fruit  could  be  sold 
at  a  high  price,  then  American  Grapes,  if  they  can  be  grown,  ought  to  find 
a  ready  sale,  especially  since  they  could  be  offered  so  much  cheaper.  In 
view  of  the  difficulty  and  expense  of  producing  grapes  under  glass,  I  hope 
some  one  will  give  American  grapes  a  trial,  bringing  to  bear  upon  the  sub- 
ject all  the  knowledge  and  skill  for  which  the  English  are  so  justly  cele- 
brated. It  is  my  intention  to  name  only  a  few  of  our  best  sorts,  and  I  will 
commence  with 

Black    Grapes. 

Eumelan,  supposed  to  be  a  seedling  of  the  Isabella,  but  without  any  of 
the  foxiness  of  that  variety.  The  bunch  and  berry,  though  not  large,  are  of 
good  size,  and  the  flesh  is  tender,  juicy,  sprightly,  refreshing  and  very  agree- 
able. No  grape  that  I  know  has  such  a  pleasant  vinous  flavor,  and  it  is 
surprising  what  a  quantity  of  the  fruit  can  be  eaten  without  causing  any 
uneasiness.  The  only  defect  which  this  variety  exhibits  is  the  habit  of  the 
vine,  which  I  regret  to  say  is  not  the  best,  Had  it  the  vigorous  constitu- 
tion of  the  Concord  or  Hartford,  it  would  undoubtedly  be  cultivated  almost 
to  the  exclusion  of  all  other  varieties.  It  is  such  a  poor  grower  that  it  re- 
quires to  be  grafted  upon  a  vigorous  variety,  then  it  succeeds  admirably. 

Barry,  or  Rogers'  Hybrid  No.  43,  claimed  to  be  a  hybrid  between  an 
American  and  a  European  variety,  is  a  black  grape,  large  in  bunch  and 
berry,  and  bearing  a  closer  resemblance  to  Black  Hamburgh  than  any  other 
American  sort.  The  flesh  is  tender,  sweet,  and  the  flavor  pleasant.  Of  the 
many  varieties  of  Rogers  this  is  justly  entitled  to  the  first  place.  No  other 
combines  so  many  valuable  qualities,  and  whether  for  amateurs'  use  or  for 
vineyard  culture,  it  has  few  equals.  In  our  vineyard  a  long  line  of  trellis 
supporting  some  large  vines  heavily  laden  with  immense  bundles  of  this 
variety,  some  of  them  weighing  27  oz.,  is  a  picture  which  would  excite  the 
admiration  of  a  veteran  grape  grower,  and  certainly  astonish  the  novice  in 
open-air  grape  culture. 

Herbert,  another  black  variety  of  Rogers,  is  not  so  large  in  bunch  and 
berry  as  the  last-mentioned,  but  the  fruit  is  superior  in  quality. 

Red    Grapes. 

Lindley,  or  Rogers'  No,  9,  is,  all  things  considered,  one  of  the  best  red 
grapes  we  have.  The  bunch  is  large  and  long;  berry  of  medium  size;  flesh 
sweet,  juicy  and  high  flavored.  The  Delaware  has  long  been  regarded  as 
the  best  table  grape,  but  I  think  that  the  Lindley,  when  it  becomes  known, 
is  destined  to  supersede  it.  The  fruit  is  certainly  equal  in  flavor,  much 
larger,  more  showy,  and  the  vine  is  a  stronger  grower. 

Delaware,  in  the  estimation  of  the  American  public,  occupies  the  same 
rank  among  grapes  that  the  Seckel  does  among  pears.  The  bunch  is  of 
medium  size,  shouldered,  very  compact,  ;  the  berry  is  small,  light-red,  with 
a  thin  skin  ;  flesh  melting,  sweet,  vinous,  excellent.  The  vine  is  a  slender 
grower,  and  requires  high  culture ;  nevertheless  it  is  hardy,  and  very  pro- 
ductive. 

Brighton  is  an  early  grape,  raised  by  artificial  crossing  of  the  Concord 
and  Diana  Hamburgh.  The  bunch  and  berry  are  of  good  size ;  flesh  ten- 
der, sweet,  vinous  and  high  flavored.  The  vine  is  a  vigorous  grower,  and 
very  productive. 


AMERICAN  GRAPES. 


Rochester  is  another  early  purple  grape,  of  fine  quality.  I  consider  it 
one  of  the  most  valuable  to  experiment  with,  as  the  vine  is  healthy  and 
vigorous,  and  the  fruit  ripens  early  and  well,  even  in  the  worst  of  seasons. 

White    Grapes. 

(  )f  the  white  grapes  now  grown,  or  about  to  be  introduced,  I  do  not  think 
that  any  one  of  them  will  be  entirely  satisfactory.  Those  which  are  healthy 
and  vigorous  in  habit  produce  fruit  of  medium  quality,  while  those  which 
yield  high-flavored  fruit  are  deficient  in  vigor.  It  is  doubtful  whether  any 
of  the  white  grapes  will  succeed  in  England  ;  nevertheless,  I  would  recom- 
mend a  trial  of  the  following  : 

Croton,  a  cross  of  the  Delaware  with  the  Chasselas,  is  the  best,  so  far  as 
regards  the  quality  of  the  fruit,  but  the  vine  is  not  robust  enough,  and  is 
sometimes  liable  to  mildew. 

Rebecca  is  another  fine  flavored  grape,  but  the  foliage  is  tender,  and  the 
growth  moderate. 

Lady  Washington,  a  new  grape,  is  a  seedling  of  Concord  crossed  with 
Allen's  Hybrid,  and  is  very  promising.  The  vine  is  a  robust  grower,  bunch 
large,  and  the  fruit  good. 

Duchess  is  another  new  variety,  and,  according  to  all  accounts,  perhaps 
the  best.  The  vine  is  said  to  be  vigorous  and  healthy,  and  the  fruit 
sprightly,  rich  and  vinous. 

Niagara  is  a  splendid  new  grape,  a  pure  native.  The  vine  is  vigorous 
and  hardy  ;  foliage  healthy  ;  the  fruit  is  large  and  handsome,  and  of  fair 
quality.  It  combines  many  important  characteristics,  and  will,  it  is  believed 
by  many,  take  the  lead  in  this  class. 

New    Grapes. 

\Vc  are  making  remarkable  progress  in  this  country  in  the  production  of 
new  kinds  of  grapes.  I  have  recently  seen  some  new  hybrids  which  are  far 
in  advance  of  any  varieties  now  known.  They  combine  qualities  long 
sought  after  but  never  attained  until  now  —  hardiness,  vigor^  with  fruit  of 
fine  texture  and  high  flavor,  fully  equal  to  the  best  foreign  sorts.  Their 
introduction  will  mark  a  new  era  in  grape  culture  in  America. 


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